![]() The above-mentioned work by Fujishima and Honda was the first report in photosynthetic cells, where hydrogen evolution reaction was steered through photocatalytic water splitting ( FUJISHIMA and HONDA, 1972). In photosynthetic cells, solar energy is transformed into solar fuels, mainly hydrogen. O’Reagen and Gratezel hold the prime report for the regenerative solar cells, where the solar energy is converted into electrical energy ( O’Regan and Grätzel, 1991). PECs are divided into three categories: Regenerative Solar Cells, Photosynthetic Cells and Photocatalytic Fuel Cells. Photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC), an improvised design of Photoelectrochemical cells (PECs), can be considered as a recent milestone along the way. The capability of photocatalysis to perform wasteless degradations and superior response towards natural solar irradiation unceasingly drives researchers to search for new horizons. Photocatalytic process is garnering more attention on the grounds of wastewater treatment with its capability towards complete mineralization of the pollutant at room temperature and pressure ( Malato et al., 1999 Rizzo et al., 2009 Bernabeu et al., 2011). Subsequently, scientific fields have witnessed a steep leap on this frontier owing to its wide range of applications in hydrogen generation, air purification, carbon dioxide reduction, antibacterial activity and wastewater treatment. Akira Fujishima and Honda pioneered an experiment on the photocatalytic splitting of water using TiO 2 in 1972, which remains as the foundation work on photocatalysis ( FUJISHIMA and HONDA, 1972). In this method, light energy and catalytic property are simultaneously used to enhance the rate of a reaction. Photocatalysis is a synergistic combination of photochemistry and catalysis ( Saravanan et al., 2017). Consumption of natural solar irradiation and simplicity in design makes photocatalysis a promising candidate in arenas of green energy production and wastewater treatment ( Roberta L and Wilson F, 2001 Mao et al., 2012 Zhao et al., 2015 Puga, 2016 Ayekoe et al., 2017 Miseki and Sayama, 2019). In this context, photocatalysis has shown a tremendous impact with its compatibility to produce energy in the form of hydrogen fuel and to simultaneously degrade a wide variety of pollutants from polluted water sources. Researchers have already understood the need for efficient mechanisms to restore the environment and to produce sustainable energy. The recent idea to explore renewable power sources has been crucial due to many vital environmental concerns of pollution and depletion of natural resources. The review is a read to the scientific community and early researchers interested in working on PFC systems. The review provides an overall understanding of PFC systems, which possess the potential to be a marvellous renewable source of energy with a handful of simultaneous applications. The review reported here consolidates all the aspects of various design strategies, materials and applications of PFCs. Recent research reports reveal this persistently broadening arena which includes hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide generation, carbon dioxide and heavy metal reduction and even sensor applications. ![]() The efficient strategies and potential materials have opened up a new horizon of applications for PFCs. Parallel to the research on design, researchers have put an immense effort into developing materials/composites for electrodes and their unique properties. Different strategies, including conventional Photoelectrochemical cell design, have been technically upgraded to exploit the advantage of PFCs and to widen their applicability. PFCs hold the ability to produce electric power with simultaneous photocatalytic degradation of pollutants on exposure to light. A renewable energy source which can also provide clean water will be of immense interest and that is where Photocatalytic Fuel Cells (PFCs) exactly fit in. Renewable energy sources are the only way out in order to provide energy in a sustainable manner for the ever-increasing demands of the society. The rising demand of energy and lack of clean water are two major concerns of modern world. 2Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.1Crystal Growth Centre, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.Sangeeth John 1 Wojciech Nogala 2 Bhavana Gupta 2* Shubra Singh 1*
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