<p>The process of photocatalytic oxidation has been extensively studied and used to break down organic contaminants in air and water. Recent technological developments have combined photocatalysis (PC) and fuel cells (FC) to create photocatalytic fuel cells (PFC), which allow wastewater treatment and power generation to occur simultaneously. The PFC systems use the organic contaminant as fuel in the fuel cell component, which breaks down when light strikes the photoanode. The voltage differential between the two electrodes drives the movement of photoexcited electrons. Consequently, the solar efficiency is increased by significantly reducing the unwanted recombination of electrons and holes. During the wastewater treatment process, the chemical energy contained in the organic impurities is extracted and transformed into electrical energy that can be used. Carbon dioxide may be reduced, and hydrogen can be produced using photoelectrochemical technology. Numerous approaches, including dual-photoelectrode configurations, innovative cell designs, sophisticated visible-light photoelectrodes, and effective control techniques, have been studied to enhance PFC mechanisms. The concepts and technological advancements in PFC will be examined in this review, with a focus on innovative cell designs. Finding viable research avenues to further develop PFC technology is facilitated by a deeper comprehension of PFC.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>