Photo-bio-electrochemical cell

A photo-electrochemical cell or system implementing a photoanode formed of or comprising an n-type material having a band gap below 2.5 eV and an oxidation potential of at least +1V vs. Ag/AgCl, when exposed to visible light irradiation;

• the n-type material being provided with an active coating and configured for generating photocurrents by oxidation of an organic material provided in an aqueous medium, without generating oxygen.

A photo-electrochemical cell configured to hold an aqueous medium comprising cellulose and an enzyme capable of degrading said cellulose or an anaerobic bacterium selected to generate said enzyme, the cell being provided with an electrode assembly comprising a BiVO4/CoP photoanode configured in said aqueous medium and exposed to solar (or visible light) radiation.

A process for generating photocurrents from an organic material provided in an aqueous medium, the process comprising treating an aqueous medium comprising the organic material and an enzyme or anaerobic bacteria generating said enzyme, in a system including an electrode assembly comprising a photoanode of an n-type material having a band gap below 2.5 eV and oxidation potential of at least +1V vs. Ag/AgCl, under conditions suitable for causing enzymatic decomposition of the organic material in said aqueous medium and oxidation of the decomposed material on the photoanode to generate the photocurrents.

A process for generating photocurrents, the process comprising treating an aqueous medium comprising at least 300 nM cellulose and a cellulase enzyme or Clostridium Thermocellum, in a system including a BiVO4/CoP photoanode, under light and applied potentials of between −0.5V and 0V vs. Ag/AgCl for causing decomposition of the cellulose in said aqueous medium and oxidation of the decomposed material on the photoanode to generate the photocurrents.