TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The method further comprises illuminating the photoelectrochemical cell with light to produce a fuel at the second electrode. Preferred Condition: The method is conducted at greater than 30 degrees C. Preferred Component: The photoactive electrode contains photoactive composition which is formed as a film on the surface of a substrate. The photoactive composition comprises iron (III) oxide or titanium (IV) oxide. The solution additionally comprises counter anions which are associated with the metal ionic species before forming the solution comprising the metal ionic species. The solution additionally comprises counter cations, where the counter cations were associated with the anionic species before forming the solution comprising the anionic species. The anionic species does not comprise hydroxide ion or oxide ions. The catalytic material formed comprises coalesced particles associated with the photoactive electrode. The anionic species comprises phosphorus. The metal ionic species comprises cobalt ions. The water contains impurity from metal which is metal element, metal ion, compound comprising metal atom or ionic species comprising metal ion. The metal is lithium, sodium, magnesium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, potassium, mercury, lead, or barium. The impurity is bacteria, pharmaceutical compound, herbicide, pesticide, protein, or inorganic compound. The inorganic compound comprises boron, silicon, sulfur, nitrogen, cyanide, phosphorus or arsenic. The impurity is present at less than 1000, preferably less than 1 ppm or less than 100, preferably less than 1 ppb. It is a gas dissolved in electrolyte. The gas is carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. The fuel is hydrogen. The metal ionic species comprises a first type of metal ionic species comprising cobalt ions, and a second type of metal ionic species comprising nickel ions or manganese ions. The anionic species comprises two types of anionic species. The first type of anionic species comprises oxides or hydroxides. The second type of anionic species comprise phosphorus. The anionic species comprising phosphorus is hydrogen phosphate anion, dihydrogen phosphate ion, orthophosphate ion, phosphorous acid, phosphite ion, dihydrogen phosphite ion, phosphite or HPO4-4 (not defined). Preferred Property: The pH of the electrolyte or solution is 8-6 or greater than 8.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The impurity is organic material, small organic molecule, or protein. The fuel is hydrocarbon. The anionic species comprising phosphorus includes phosphate methyl groups. The anionic species comprising phosphorus comprises the structure PO(OR1)(OR2)(R3).R1-R3=H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, heteroalkyl, heteroalkenyl, heteroalkynyl, aryl, or heteroaryl (all optionally substituted).