TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Cell: In the photogalvanic cell, the lyotropic liquid crystal exists in a lamellar (La) phase. The first electrode is transmissive of light and is in contact with the surfactant pseudo-phase. Alternatively, the photogalvanic cell comprises the assembly and where the first electrode is transmissive of light and is in contact with the surfactant pseudo-phase. The second electrode is in contact with the aqueous sub-phase. The cell is chargeable by illuminating the first electrode. The first electrode is selected from indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO), other tin oxides, and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and its derivatives. The second electrode is a sacrificial electrode or an electropositive metal, where the second electrode is selected from nickel, silver, aluminum or zinc (preferred). The photoactive first redox couple is selected from N-methylphenothiazine, dyes selected from the classes thiazines, phenazines, xanthenes, acridines, triphenylmethanes, triphenylamines, ferrocenes, phenylenediamines, cyanines, azo dyes, porphyrins, phthalocyanines, ruthenium (II)tris(bipyridyl) and ruthenium(II)tris(phenanthroline) or derivatives having an alternative metal ion center or ligand. The photoactive first redox couple is N-methylphenothiazine. The aqueous medium within which the photoactive redox couple is contained further contains an aromatic (or polyaromatic) halide or halogenated solvent, or halogenated environmental pollutant. The electrolyte is selected from potassium chloride, water-soluble sulfates, hydrogen phosphates, fluorides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, thiocyanates and cyanates. The electrolyte is potassium chloride. Preferred Assembly: In the assembly, the first fluid medium and the second fluid medium comprise first and second liquid phases arranged in parallel and in mutual contact. The assembly comprises a set of the first and second liquid phases in an alternating arrangement. The second redox couple consists of species soluble in the second fluid medium and substantially insoluble in the first fluid medium. The assembly further comprises a first electrode in contact with the first fluid medium and a second electrode in contact with the second fluid medium, the respective electrodes being spaced apart and defining a volume between it. The first and second fluid media are defined by an aqueous medium including a lyotropic liquid crystal existing in a lamellar (La) phase such that the aqueous medium includes at least one surfactant pseudo- phase and at least one aqueous sub-phase, the photoactive first redox couple being contained in the surfactant pseudo-phase and the second redox couple being contained in the aqueous sub-phase.