TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRONICS - Preferred Method: In the methods above, the solution includes a solvent comprising n-hexane. The solution comprises titanium isopropoxide present at 1 wt.%. The organometallic compound is present at 0.1-5 wt.%. The substrate comprises a fuel cell bipolar plate, where the bipolar plate includes a low contact resistant material deposited over a surface and where the solution is deposited over the low contact resistant layer. The bipolar plate also includes a surface having a reacting gas flow field including lands and channels and where the solution is deposited over the lands and the channels. The method further comprises removing the solution from the lands prior to the drying. The bipolar plate includes a face defining a reacting gas flow channel including lands and channels and further comprising depositing a mask on the lands leaving the channels exposed prior to depositing the solution, and further comprising removing the mask after the drying for the oxidizing to leave the layer including nanoparticles including metal oxides only on the surface defining the channels. A surface of the bipolar plate defines a reactant gas flow field including lands and channels, and further comprising removing the solution from the lands, the film of organometallic compound on the lands, or the layer of nanoparticles including metal oxides on the lands. The substrate comprises a fuel cell gas diffusion media layer, a fuel cell microporous layer, a fuel cell catalyst layer, or a fuel cell membrane. The substrate also comprises glass or a polymeric material. It comprises a vehicle window, windshield, headlamp cover or taillight cover. The method further comprises using the nanoparticles to produce hydrogen while cleaning the environment from organic waste utilizing the high surface area of the nanoparticles and the photoelectrochemical properties of the nanoparticles. The substrate also comprises a sacrificial porous material, and further comprising removing the porous material to leave behind nanoparticles in the shape of the pore structure of the porous material. The substrate also comprises a sacrificial porous woven mat including randomly positioned fibers, and removing the sacrificial mat by burning to provide rod-shaped nanoparticles or nanoparticles of well defined geometries. The method further comprises: (i) coating a catalyst on the nanoparticles to provide catalyst coated nanoparticles; and (ii) forming a fuel cell electrode using the catalyst coated nanoparticles.