Journal Article

Photocatalytic material–microorganism hybrid systems in water decontamination

Ming, Jie, Wang, Zhi-Bin, Guo, Ziyu, Xie, Liangke, Ni, Shou-Qing

2025

Overview

The photocatalytic material–microorganism hybrid (PMH) systems constructed with microbes and light-harvesting materials merge the advantages of photocatalysis and biological processes and exhibit benefits in contaminant removal.The unique microbe–photosensitizer interface of PMH system enables an effective synergy between photocatalysis and bioremediation for pollutant removal, but also induces a problem of microbes being inactivated by photocatalysis, which can be influenced by internal components and operational conditions.The synergistic mechanism between photocatalysis and biological processes is the cornerstone of PMH systems for water decontamination, which is based on charge transfer and microbial response. Biological processes are widely used technologies for water decontamination, but they are often limited by insufficient bioavailable carbon sources or biorecalcitrant contaminants. The recently developed photocatalytic material–microorganism hybrid (PMH) system combines the light-harvesting capacities of photocatalytic materials with specific enzymatic activities of whole cells, efficiently achieving solar-to-chemical conversion. By integrating the benefits of both photocatalysis and biological processes, the PMH system shows great potential for water decontamination. While recent reviews have focused primarily on its application in green energy development, this review emphasizes the latest advancements in PMH systems for water decontamination, covering various applications, key considerations, and synergistic mechanisms. This review aims to provide a fundamental understanding of the PMH system and explore its broader potential in environmental remediation. Biological processes are widely used technologies for water decontamination, but they are often limited by insufficient bioavailable carbon sources or biorecalcitrant contaminants. The recently developed photocatalytic material–microorganism hybrid (PMH) system combines the light-harvesting capacities of photocatalytic materials with specific enzymatic activities of whole cells, efficiently achieving solar-to-chemical conversion. By integrating the benefits of both photocatalysis and biological processes, the PMH system shows great potential for water decontamination. While recent reviews have focused primarily on its application in green energy development, this review emphasizes the latest advancements in PMH systems for water decontamination, covering various applications, key considerations, and synergistic mechanisms. This review aims to provide a fundamental understanding of the PMH system and explore its broader potential in environmental remediation.

• Publisher: Elsevier Ltd,Elsevier Limited
• Subject: Acids / Bioavailability / Biodegradation / Biological activity / Carbon / Carbon sources / Catalysis / charge transfer and microbial response / Chemical oxygen demand / Chromatography / Clean energy / Contaminants / Decontamination / Decontamination - methods / Denitrification / Energy development / Environmental cleanup / Environmental restoration / Enzymatic activity / Enzymes / Green development / Green energy / Hybrid systems / Internal Medicine / key considerations / Mass spectrometry / Metabolism / Metabolites / microbe-photosensitizer interface / Microorganisms / Mineralization / Nitrogen / Oxidation / Photocatalysis / photocatalytic material–microorganism hybrid / Pollutants / Scientific imaging / Semiconductors / Toxicity / water decontamination / Water purification / Water Purification - methods