Harnessing microbes to pioneer environmental biophotoelectrochemistry

HighlightsBiophotoelectrochemistry (BPEC) is an emerging filed concerned with the photoelectron transfer process between photoactive materials with organisms.BPEC systems improve carbon fixation, nitrogen fixation, water remediation, and recovery of wastewater energy, enabling efficient solar energy conversion to chemical energy and enhancing environmental sustainability.Design innovations in BPEC systems optimize electron transfer and stability, expanding their application in environmental remediation.Synthetic biology is crucial for advancing BPEC and tailoring microbial metabolic pathways for specific environmental tasks.BPEC technologies offer scalable solutions for pollutant degradation and energy recovery, contributing to a circular economy.AbstractIn seeking sustainable environmental strategies, microbial biophotoelectrochemistry (BPEC) systems represent a significant advancement. In this review, we underscore the shift from conventional bioenergy systems to sophisticated BPEC applications, emphasizing their utility in leveraging solar energy for essential biochemical conversions. Recent progress in BPEC technology has facilitated improved photoelectron transfer and system stability, resulting in substantial advancements in carbon and nitrogen fixation, degradation of pollutants, and energy recovery from wastewater. Advances in system design and synthetic biology have expanded the potential of BPEC for environmental clean-up and sustainable energy generation. We also highlight the challenges of environmental BPEC systems, ranging from performance improvement to future applications.