Solar Energy Harvesting Research Articles

ZnO with Different Morphologies Sensitized by Metalloporphyrins as Catalysts for H2 Production by Water Splitting under Sunlight.

In this work, zinc oxide with different morphologies and textural properties were prepared and sensitized with metalloporphyrins (MPs) aiming to improve its solar energy harvesting capability for H2 production by water splitting under sunlight (a 300 W Xe/Hg lamp). An anionic iron(III)porphyrin and a cationic manganese(III)porphyrin were immobilized on different ZnO solids predominantly by electrostatic interactions. In general, the prepared MP-free ZnO solid yielded modest catalytic results which had apparently no direct correlation with their textural properties or morphology. On the other hand, when these ZnO solids had iron or manganese porphyrin sensitizing them, their catalytic performances changed and a superior yield towards H2 production was observed in comparison to the pure ZnO solids, making evident the synergy achieved between these two components (ZnO and metalloporphyrins) for the prepared solids. It was also observed that the metalloporphyrins and the respective free-base ligand suffered redox reactions when used as homogenous catalyst in this reaction, which could influence their performances as catalysts. The same was not observed in the solids containing immobilized MP, suggesting some protective effect of the ZnO solids on the MP complexes upon immobilization probably due to interaction of the complexes with the ZnO matrix.

Ultra-broadband polarization-insensitive versatile solar thermal harvester

Sustainable and Renewable Energy is essential because it's non-polluted and available in nature. Solar energy is the most important of them all as its the essential of them all. Sun energy is a clean and finest alternative to renewable energy sources. The slotted cylinder-shaped Mxene-based resonator solar absorber (SCMRSA) achieved an average of 95.06 % efficient absorption. The MXene material is used as a resonating material above the titanium oxide layer based on the MXene layer. The wide angle of incidence is achieved which is analyzed by changing the different angles of incidence. The E-field response is also observed for the TE and TM modes. The results show a similar response for both TE and TM modes. The optimization of the structure is also observed for different variable variations and the final optimized design is used for the highly efficient absorptance results. The SCMRSA is also applicable for various solar thermal applications and energy harvesters.

Radiometric characterization of daytime luminescent materials directly under the solar illumination

The materials efficiently emitting photoluminescence (PL) under solar irradiation could find broad applications in passive radiative cooling of buildings, urban heat mitigation, and solar energy harvesting. In this work, we discuss the limitations of common laboratory characterization of such materials (using tunable light sources or solar simulators) and propose a methodology for direct outdoor characterization of PL efficiency under full solar irradiation. A simple, portable radiometry setup with an integrating sphere is described, and its capability of rapid determination of the spectral distribution of the absorbed and emitted power, as well as the overall PL power efficiency and quantum yield, is demonstrated. By characterization of three materials developed for daytime radiative cooling applications, we reveal deviations of obtained parameters caused by the replacement of the real solar irradiation by that of solar simulators. The described method is suitable for studies of long-term stability, photo-induced degradation, or thermal effects.

Smart Photovoltaic Windows for Next-Generation Energy-Saving Buildings.

The global energy system transforming from fossil fuels to renewable green energy through the adaption of innovative and dynamic green technologies. Energy-saving buildings (ESBs) are attracting extensive attention as intelligent architectures capable of significantly reducing the energy consumption for heating, air-conditioning, and lighting. They provide comfortable working and living environment by regulating and harnessing solar energy. Smart photovoltaic windows (SPWs) offer a promising platform for designing ESBs due to their unique feature. They can modulate solar energy based on dynamic color switching behavior under external stimuli and generate electrical power by harvesting solar energy. In this review, the-state-of-art of strategies and technologies are summarized putting SPWs toward high-efficiency ESBs. The SPWs are systematically categorized according to the working principle and functional component. For each type of SPWs, material and architecture engineering are focused on to optimize operation mode, optical modulation capability, photovoltaic performance and durability for giving ESBs flexible manipulation, extraordinary energy-saving effect, and high electricity power. In addition, the challenges and opportunities in this cutting-edge research area are discussed, with the aim of promoting the development of advanced multifunctional SPWs and their application in high efficiency ESBs.

Self-powered flexible sensor network for continuous monitoring of crop micro-environment and growth states

Monitoring crops’ micro-environment and growth states is significant for developing smart agriculture. However, the traditional rigid and large-sized sensor systems cannot meet the demands of precision agriculture for multi-parameter and high-throughput monitoring. Here, we integrate a flexible sensor system with low-power communication techniques, designing a two-layer star topology sensor network based on BLE and NB-IoT protocol. The sensors are arranged on flexible substrates, allowing them to closely adhere to various parts of crops, such as stems and leaves. To ensure the accuracy of the sensors, they are evaluated and calibrated in the laboratory. A solar energy harvesting system is designed for the sensor network to make it self-powered and successfully measure temperature, humidity, illumination, and leaf angles stably, demonstrating the system’s feasibility. The deployment cost of the sensor network is significantly lower than that of traditional automatic weather stations, showcasing its potential for widespread application in farmlands.

Two-stage estimation of hourly diffuse solar radiation across China using end-to-end gradient boosting with sequentially boosted features

Diffuse solar radiation (DR) constitutes a vital component of solar energy reaching the surface of the Earth. The demand for extensive temporal and spatial coverage of DR data has intensified in the realms of solar energy harvesting, agriculture, and climate change. However, until now, long-term DR observations have only been available from 17 stations across mainland China. Consequently, there is a pressing need to estimate spatially continuous, high-temporal-resolution DR for large-scale regions in China. The current hindrance to DR estimations stems from the scarcity of stations equipped with DR observations. This study proposes a two-stage strategy to efficiently estimate seamless DR in 2019 at a national scale, leveraging both DR and total solar radiation (TR) observations from numerous stations. In the first stage, the approach generates virtual DR at TR stations by establishing a learned relationship between DR and TR observations. Subsequently, in the second stage, these virtual DR data, in conjunction with satellite and reanalysis datasets, are utilized to estimate national-scale DR. Additionally, a novel model, End-to-end Gradient Boosting with Shortcuts and Feature selection (EGB-SF), is introduced to estimate DR over China. One advantage of this model is its consideration of the impact of sequentially boosted features and their interactions. Embedded shortcut connections fully exploit the influence of existing features on newly introduced ones during the learning process. Beyond enhancing the accuracy of DR estimation, the EGB-SF algorithm can also elucidate the relative importance levels of input features to the model. Moreover, the two-stage strategy outperforms the method of estimating national DR using only DR observations, as evidenced by its superior spatial generalization abilities. Statistical evaluation, collaborative analysis with influencing factors, and comparisons with related products confirm the accuracy and spatial continuity of the DR estimations in this study. These results furnish reliable DR data across China for research in agriculture, climate, solar radiation, and related fields.

Quickly select heliostat candidates and design pattern-free layout using geometric projection method

Central receiver system is one of the most promising solar energy harvesting technologies, which focuses sunlight onto the receiver through heliostats to generate high temperatures for thermal cycling. The optimal layout of the heliostat plays a crucial role, but the pattern-free heliostat field layout requires multiple uses of computationally intensive shadowing and blocking efficiency, which is highly time-consuming. In this work, a new geometric projection method, Projection radius method (PRM), is proposed. It includes two aspects: (i) Quickly and effectively selecting heliostat candidates with shadowing and blocking potential by the incident and reflected ray projection radius; (ii) Designing the pattern-free heliostat field layout by employing overlap radius instead of shadowing and blocking efficiency. The results indicate that, compared to traditional methods, when designing 2650 heliostats, (i) the calculation time for optical efficiency was reduced by 63%; (ii) optical efficiency increased by 1.23%, and designing a pattern-free layout took only 2.78 h. These advancements facilitate the efficient design of large-scale pattern-free heliostat field layouts.

Energy Harvesting Technologies in Electric Vehicles and Applications in Sustainable Agricultural Transportation: A Review

The increasing challenges of energy depletion, environmental pollution, climate change, and agricultural transportation costs demand innovative solutions. Electric vehicles (EVs) offer a promising solution towards mitigating these issues through renewable energy sources. However, limited driving range remains a crucial barrier to their widespread adoption, particularly in environmentally friendly agricultural transportation. This review paper comprehensively analyzes energy harvesting technologies in electric vehicles and their application in agricultural transportation. The focus is on their potential to improve driving range and address the specific needs of farmers in terms of maximizing their income. Very few review articles have been published on maximum number of possibilities of harvesting energies in electric vehicles, application in agricultural transportation and future prospects for improvement. Existing and current literature was systematically reviewed on various energy harvesting techniques applicable to EVs, including solar energy harvesting, regenerative braking, aerodynamic (wind) energy recovery, and vibration energy harvesting through suspension systems which are all renewable energy sources. Their advantages, working principle, limitations, and recent advancements were critically discussed. All explored energy harvesting methods show the ability to extend EV driving range. However, solar energy and wind or aerodynamic energy harvesting in EVs are theoretically possible but still under research for practical applications due to lots of limitations. Regenerative braking and vibration energy harvesting show the most promising current applications. The Electrical or electromagnetic vibration energy harvesters produce better results over mechanical (hydraulic and pneumatic harvesters). When optimization is employed, better results were achieved. Research on the application of artificial intelligence based computer algorithms to optimize and produce the best amount of harvested energy in EVs will play a significant contribution in the adoption of EVs for sustainable agricultural transportation.

Poly-dopamine coated-cellulose/chitosan hybrid carbon aerogel composite phase change materials with efficient photothermal conversion and storage

Solar energy, being both low-cost and renewable, is a viable alternative for thermal storage and can help mitigate the energy crisis. Efficient conversion and storage for solar energy can significantly enhance energy utilization. Phase change materials (PCMs), such as paraffin (PW), are capable of harvesting and converting solar energy into thermal energy, thus playing a crucial role in solar energy utilization. However, PW faces challenges, such as solid–liquid leakage and low photothermal conversion efficiency, which hinder its applications in solar energy storage. In this study, we proposed the construction of a robust poly-dopamine (PDA)/chitosan (CS)/cellulose nanofibers (CNF) carbon aerogel with enhanced photothermal performance. This is achieved by incorporating PDA, known for its excellent light absorption properties, and cross-linking it with low-cost biomass CS and CNF via a Schiff base reaction. The resulting novel composite PCMs exhibit high photothermal conversion efficiency and shape stability by encapsulating PW within the PDA/CS/CNF carbon aerogel. Our findings demonstrate that the composite PCMs have a high melting energy-storage capacity of 209.57 J/g. Notably, the introduction of PDA significantly improved the photothermal conversion efficiency by 94.9 %. These results suggest that composite PCMs hold great potential for applications in photothermal energy conversion and storage.

(Not) in my city: An explorative study on social acceptance of photovoltaic installations on buildings

Existing buildings provide high surface potential for photovoltaic (PV) installations. When deciding whether a building is suitable for solar energy harvesting, social acceptance needs to be considered. While PV is accepted in general, research regarding the acceptance of PV for specific types of buildings is sparse. In two explorative studies, we investigated the building-specific acceptance of PV installations, taking new PV module designs into account.The aim of the first study (N = 76, passersby in the Botanical Garden, Freiburg i. Br. Germany who volunteered to participate) was to investigate which PV module designs are accepted for different buildings. Six different PV crystalline silicon module prototypes varying in color and surface structure were presented on an exhibition table. Using a paper-pencil-survey, participants rated the modules and combined them with presented buildings. Results show that depending on the building, different modules were favored whereby PV modules were chosen mostly due to color integration.In a second study (N = 109, recruited from the participant pool of the institute of psychology, University of Freiburg, Germany, mostly students, and in social media), participants indicated their acceptance of a PV installation for 24 different buildings in an online survey. Results revealed that social acceptance for PV installations on buildings was generally high and was even higher if the PV module was aesthetically integrated or invisibly. PV modules on historical buildings (including a church) were less accepted than on modern buildings. Yet for invisible PV modules, there were no acceptance differences between buildings. Building variables were found to be more important to predict building-specific acceptance than person-related variables such as environmental concerns, values or political attitude.Taken together, the study gives a first insight into the subject of the social acceptance of urban PV installations. Results underline the importance of aesthetic integration and (in)visibility for PV installation on buildings.

Study of an enhanced photocatalytic hybrid MnO2@SnO2 core-shell Z-scheme nano heterojunction for efficient H2 production

The usage of non-renewable carbon-base fuel energy have created multiple issues such as global warming, environmental degradations etc. Replacing these non-renewable sources of energy with renewable energy (photocatalytic H2 production) is a hot topic for researchers due to its sustainability and eco-friendliness. In this work MnO2, SnO2 and their nanocomposites have been synthesized through simple hydrothermal and co-precipitation methods. The purpose of such nanocomposite fabrication is to synthesize a suitable heterostructure for maximum solar energy harvesting in water splitting. All the prepared samples of pure MnO2, SnO2, and nanocomposites have been characterized through various techniques, which confirm the structure, functional groups, absorbance, morphology, elemental compositions, chemical compositions, and increase in photo-induced current as well as the photostability of such nanocomposites. The highest apparent quantum yield of the optimized MnO2@SnO2 (first time reported as photocatalyst for H2 production) were 21.7% at wavelength 420 nm, which is the highest ever reported for such (MnO2@SnO2) nanocomposite. The enhanced photocatalytic behavior for H2 production has been observed which is 3.67 times greater than pristine MnO2. Such an enhancement is due to the synergistic effect of SnO2 NPs decorated on the NTs of MnO2. The present work provides a novel approach to produce hydrogen with high performance as efficient solar harvesting.

Stable RbCsFAPbI3 perovskite solar cell: numerical modelling and optimisation using SCAPS-1D

The studies concerning solar cell technology has consistently been captivating and inspiring, largely because of its environmentally friendly and sustainable characteristics. The outstanding electronic, optical, mechanical, and electrical characteristics of perovskite materials make them crucial for the development of the photovoltaic industry. In order to model the mixed cation Rb0.05Cs0.1FA0.85PbI3 perovskite solar cells, the SCAPS-1D tool was used. The main feature of RbCsFAPbI3 perovskite is its remarkable stability, and wide bandgap. Rubidium (Rb) and cesium (Cs) cations improve the optoelectronic characteristics of the material, resulting in less non-radiative recombination and improved charge transfer. In this work, the effects of different hole transport layers (CuSCN, CuSbS2,Cu2O) and back metal contacts (Ag, Fe, C-Cu, Au, Ni, Pt) on solar cell performance were investigated. The maximum efficiency of the solar cell has been achieved by studying various parameters like temperature, series resistance, shunt resistance, defect density, and absorber layer thickness. With FF = 84.12%, Jsc = 24.52 mA cm−2, Voc = 1.19 V, and the configuration of FTO/TiO2/RbCsFAPbI3/Cu2O/Au, the optimised device obtains a PCE of 24.64%. The impressive enhancements in performance parameters observed in the structure of the device make it highly suitable for applications in solar energy harvesting systems.

The Integration of Bio-Active Elements into Building Façades as a Sustainable Concept

Global warming and climate change are major concerns across multiple disciplines. Population growth, urbanization, and industrialization are significant contributing factors to such problems due to the escalating use of fossil fuels required to meet growing energy demands. The building sector uses the largest share of total global energy production and produces tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Emerging eco-friendly technologies, such as solar and wind energy harvesting, are being extensively explored; however, they are insufficient. Nature-inspired technologies could offer solutions to our problems. For instance, algae are microorganisms that use water, light, and CO2 to produce energy and sustain life, and the exploitation of these characteristics in a built environment is termed algae building technology, which is a very efficient and green application suitable for a sustainable future. Algae-integrated façades show great versatility through biomass and energy production, wastewater treatment, shading, and thermal and acoustic insulation. In this paper, algae will be introduced as a robust tool toward a greener and more sustainable future. Algae building technology and its implementation will be demonstrated. Furthermore, steps for applying this sustainable strategy in Egypt will be discussed.

Electrochemical synthesis of Mn–Ni–S on titania nanotubes as new dual-function electrodes for photo-assisted asymmetric supercapacitors

Photo-assisted energy storage systems, by which solar energy can be both converted and stored, have been of interest in the past few years. Novel energy conversion and storage technology is offered by photo-supercapacitors through the combination of an energy collecting unit and a supercapacitor. This dual-application system effectively generates and stores power in a single device, which makes it appropriate for various purposes. In this work, the electrochemical anodization-electrodeposition has been employed to fabricate manganese-nickel sulfide (Mn–Ni–S) nanostructures on titania nanotubes (TNs) and used them as photoelectrodes in photo-supercapacitors. The high surface area and improved properties make TNs considerably important for energy production and storage. Photoelectrochemical analysis was carried out in a three-electrode system under a xenon (Xe) lamp irradiation using the film prepared as the photoelectrode. The highest photocurrent and photovoltage were shown by MnNiS-3/TN electrode, indicating its superior photosensitivity. Upon illumination under a 0.7 mA/cm2 current density, the area-specific capacitance of MnNiS-3/TN electrode increased from 388.3 to 723.3 mF/cm2, which is 2.0, 3.6, and 12.8 times higher than the corresponding values for NiS/TN, MnS/TN, and bare TN electrodes under similar conditions, respectively. This indicates the considerable enhancement of the capacitance of this electrode induced by light. The desirable light-sensitive properties of MnNiS/TN make it capable of simultaneous solar energy harvesting and storage. Light sensitivity makes it possible to charge MnNiS/TN optically. More importantly, upon light irradiation, the capacity can be increased from 374.7 to 630.2 mF/cm2 (current density 0.5 mA/cm2) compared to the corresponding value in the dark. Using MnNiS-3/TN as the best photoelectrode and MnS/FTO, NiS/FTO, MnNiS-1/FTO, MnNiS-2/FTO, and MnNiS-3/FTO as the counter electrodes, photo-charged through light illumination on their surfaces, five asymmetric solid-state photo-supercapacitors (ASSPS) were prepared. MnNiS-3/TN//MnNiS-3/FTO device showed the largest CV curve area, which indicated its highest areal capacitance. High capacitance gain under irradiation (155.7% at 2.0 mA/cm2) and outstanding capacitance maintenance (97.9% over 10000 cycles) were shown by this ASSPS. Furthermore, a great energy density of 4855.4 mWh/cm2 was shown by the MnNiS-3/TN//MnNiS-3/FTO device under light irradiation. This research introduces a novel approach to the development of powerful solar energy conversion/storage devices.

Simultaneously Transmitting and Reflecting Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (STAR-RIS) with Hybrid Solar, RF and Wind Energy Harvesting

Simultaneously Transmitting and Reflecting Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (STAR-RIS) with Hybrid Solar, RF and Wind Energy Harvesting

Sustainable Heat Generation in Flow from a Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage System

As the global deployment of renewable technologies accelerate, finding efficient ways to store energy will aid in responding to shifting energy demands. A prospective option not only in harvesting solar energy but also in emission‐free heating is MOlecular Solar Thermal (MOST) energy storage. A central part of MOST applications is to develop methods to release the stored energy. Herein, the Quadricyclane (QC)‐to‐Norbornadiene catalyzed back reaction is explored in a specially designed packed‐bed reactor. Four distinctly sized and purposely synthesized platinum on activated carbon catalysts are studied to trigger the heat release from the energy‐dense QC isomer. The catalysts are fully characterized using a variety of structural, surface, and spectroscopic techniques. Parameters to optimize catalytic conversion and heat release in flow conditions are explored including particle size and packing behavior, flow rates, and molecular residence times. Moreover, using CO pulse chemisorption technique, site time yield values and a turnover number are reported. Complementary to the flow reactions, computational fluid dynamic simulations applying lattice Boltzmann methods to two catalytic packed beds of different size ranges are done to evaluate fluid‐dynamic behavior within the reactor bed to ascertain the ideal particle size and packing density for catalysis in MOST applications.

Symmetric engineered central cross-shaped broadband metamaterial absorber with high absorption and stability for solar sailing and solar energy applications

We propose a theoretical design and analysis of a broadband metamaterial absorber (MMA) with significant potential for solar sailing applications which is a method of spacecraft propulsion that usages the momentum of sunlight to propel a spacecraft through space. The absorber features a metal-dielectric-metal configuration with a tungsten (W) based resonator and ground plane, and a Silicon-dioxide (SiO₂) substrate. Addressing the critical need for materials that can efficiently harness solar radiation for propulsion in space, our design achieves an average absorption of 99.15 % over a broad spectrum from 250 nm to 1200 nm, covering the UV–Visible–NIR regions, with near-unity absorption peaks at 362 nm and 915.8 nm. It maintains high absorptions of 84.9 % and 86 % under transvers electric and transvers magnetic modes respectively, demonstrating excellent wide incident angle stability and polarization insensitivity due to its symmetric design. PCR values close to zero confirm its functionality as an absorber rather than a polarizer. The MMA shows minimal deformation across temperatures from 500 K to 1750 K and remains stable under various mechanical stresses, proving its durability and efficiency in space. Additionally, in solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) systems, the MMA demonstrates high photothermal conversion efficiency (PTCE) over a wide temperature range (500 °C to 1500 °C) and different concentration factors. This dual functionality highlights its potential for both efficient space exploration and terrestrial solar energy harvesting, making it a versatile tool for future technological applications.

Aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria correlate with picophytoplankton across the Atlantic Ocean but show unique vertical bioenergetics

AbstractAerobic anoxygenic phototrophic (AAP) bacteria are a common part of microbial communities in the sunlit ocean. They contain bacteriochlorophyll a (BChl a)‐based photosystems that harvest solar energy for their metabolism. Across different oceanic regions, AAP bacteria seem to be more abundant in eutrophic areas, associated with high chlorophyll concentrations. While most previous studies focused on surface samplings, there is limited information regarding their vertical distribution in euphotic zones of the major ocean basins. Here, we hypothesized that AAP bacteria will follow a similar structure to the chlorophyll depth profile across areas with different degrees of stratification. To test this hypothesis, we enumerated AAP cells and determined bulk water BChl a concentrations along the photic zone of a latitudinal transect in the South and Central Atlantic Ocean. Overall, the distribution of AAP bacteria was highly correlated to that of chlorophyll a and to the abundance of picophytoplankton across both vertical and horizontal gradients. Furthermore, estimated light energy captured across the water column showed that, while AAP bacteria share a common latitudinal pattern of light absorption with picophytoplankton, they display a unique vertical arrangement with highest photoheterotrophic activity in the top 50 m of the surface ocean.

Novel and stable carbon black/polyvinyl acetal aerogels efficiently harvesting solar energy for seawater desalination

A novel interfacial solar steam generators (ISSG) was prepared by a porous carbon black/polyvinyl acetal aerogel (CPA) with high light-absorbing hydrophilic properties, to achieve efficient solar-driven water evaporation and seawater desalination. The polyvinyl acetal was produced by the aldol condensation reaction of polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) and glutaraldehyde(GA). It was freeze-dried to create a hydrophilic porous structure that constructs an efficient hydrophilic channel. Carbon black (CB) exhibits high light absorption capabilities. Incident light undergoes multiple scattering within its porous network structure, effectively reducing reflected light energy loss and enabling efficient thermal conversion of sunlight. Benefited from its highly light-absorbing porous hydrophilic structure, CPA-40-3 evaporation rate achieves an impressive 3.23 kg·m−2·h−1 and an evaporation efficiency of 94 % under 1 sun irradiation, without obvious decay even during long-term use. Furthermore, CPA-40-3 demonstrates remarkable salt tolerance, the evaporation rate remains at 2.55 kg·m−2·h−1 although in simulated Dead Sea salt water under 1 sun irradiation. Compared to traditional ISSG, the CPA has advantages such as superior mechanical properties, prevention of surface salt precipitation, faster water supply, and a larger light absorption area. This design had tremendous promise for efficient solar desalination due to its extraordinarily high evaporation performance in high-salinity brine.

Boosting the photocatalytic decontamination efficiency using a supramolecular photoenzyme ensemble.

Continuous industrialization has raised daunting environmental concerns, and there is an urgent need to develop a sustainable strategy to tackle the contamination issues. Here, we report a supramolecular photoenzyme ensemble enabling the harvest of solar energy to remove contaminations in water. The well-sourced oxidoreductase, laccase, is confined into a photoactive hydrogen-bonded organic framework (PHOF) through an in situ encapsulation method. The direct electron migration between the oxidation center in a PHOF and the reduction center in laccase facilitates synergistic photoenzyme-coupled catalysis, showing two orders of magnitude higher activity than free laccase for pollutant degradation under visible light, without the need for sacrificial agents or costly co-mediators. Such high decontamination efficiency also surpasses the reported catalysts. The structure and decontamination function of this supramolecular photoenzyme ensemble remain highly stable in complex environment matrices, presenting desirable reusability and almost 100% conversion efficiency of pollutants for real sewage samples. Our conceptual photoenzyme hybrid catalyst offers important insights into green and sustainable water decontamination.