NOVELTY - A water permeable electrode for electrochemical splitting of water comprises: a light sensitive catalytic material layer; polymer electrolyte membrane layer; metallic substrate layer disposed adjacent the polymer electrolyte membrane layer; and at least one photovoltaic device connected in series to the light sensitive catalytic material layer and disposed between the light sensitive catalytic material layer and the metallic substrate layer.    USE - The electrode is used in solar powered electrolytic cell for electrochemical splitting of water (claimed) to produce hydrogen and oxygen.    ADVANTAGE - The apparatus has improved efficiency and durability, and reduced semiconductor corrosion. It enables the transmission of sunlight to the photoelectrode catalyst surface without incurring the energy losses incurred in conventional photoelectrolytic systems. It eliminates the water surface tension responsible for hindering the escape of the hydrogen and oxygen gases from the catalyst surface encountered in the conventional photoelectrolytic systems.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An electrode for electrochemical splitting of water comprises: a light sensitive catalytic material layer; polymer electrolyte membrane layer (38); metallic substrate layer disposed adjacent the polymer electrolyte membrane layer; and at least one photovoltaic device connected in series to the light sensitive catalytic material layer and disposed between the light sensitive catalytic material layer and the metallic substrate layer. Each of the light sensitive catalytic material layer, the polymer electrolyte membrane layer, the metallic substrate layer and the photovoltaic device is water permeable.    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for an electrolytic cell comprising: a housing having at least one light transmissive wall; at least one water permeable photoelectrode (22, 23) disposed in the housing; additional electrode of opposite polarity from the water permeable photoelectrode disposed within the housing at a distance from the water permeable photoelectrode; and water-based electrolyte (28) disposed only between the water permeable photoelectrode and the additional electrode. The water permeable photoelectrode comprising a first light sensitive catalytic material layer disposed at a distance from the light transmissive wall and having a side facing the light transmissive wall, a first polymer electrolyte membrane layer disposed on a side of the first light sensitive catalytic material layer opposite the side facing the light transmissive wall, a first metallic substrate layer disposed between the first light sensitive catalytic material layer and the first polymer electrolyte membrane layer and adjacent the first polymer electrolyte membrane layer, and at least one photovoltaic device disposed between the first light sensitive catalytic material layer and the first metallic substrate layer and connected in series with the first light sensitive catalytic material layer.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure is a schematic diagram of photovoltaic cell for hydrogen generation.    Photoelectrodes (22, 23)    Semiconductor layers (24, 26)    Electrolyte (28)    Polymer electrolyte membrane layer (38)