Catechol-TiO 2 hybrids for photocatalytic H 2 production and photocathode assembly.

Visible-light driven H2 evolution in water is achieved using catechol-photosensitised TiO2 nanoparticles with a molecular nickel catalyst. Layer-by-layer immobilisation of catechol-TiO2 onto tin-doped indium oxide electrodes generates photocathodic currents in the presence of an electron acceptor. This approach represents a new strategy for controlling photocurrent direction in dye-sensitised photoelectrochemical applications.