NOVELTY - The anode comprises an oxidation-resistant catalyst layer (26), a corrosion-inhibiting barrier layer (24), and a conductive base anode (22). The barrier layer is disposed on the conductive base anode. The catalyst layer is disposed on the corrosion-inhibiting barrier layer. The corrosion-inhibiting barrier layer is a pin-hole-free layer, is disposed between the catalyst layer and the conductive base anode, and has a thickness of less than 10 nm, an interfacial areal resistance of less than 10 ohms cm2, or an interfacial areal conductivity of greater than 0.1 Siemens per cm2.    USE - The anode is useful in an electrochemical devices and photo-electrochemical devices for: the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water, chlorine and oxidixed organic feedstocks; the oxidation to detect and quantifiy chemical species; the oxidation of chlorides to chlorine; the oxidation of aromatics to produce monomers for polymer synthesis; the oxidation of organic carbon for total organic carbon chemical analysis and other detection and quantification strategies; the reclamation of metals from aqueous solution by electrowinning; the disinfection of drinking water; or the destruction of organic pollutants in water by reactive oxygen species.    ADVANTAGE - The anode has improved corrosion resistant, high stability and durability and enhanced electronic properties, and ensures efficient oxidation of water or other species thus easily producing the hydrogen and oxygen.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The anode comprises an oxidation-resistant catalyst layer (26), a corrosion-inhibiting barrier layer (24), and a conductive base anode (22). The barrier layer is disposed on the conductive base anode. The catalyst layer is disposed on the corrosion-inhibiting barrier layer. The corrosion-inhibiting barrier layer is a pin-hole-free layer, is disposed between the catalyst layer and the conductive base anode, and has a thickness of less than 10 nm, an interfacial areal resistance of less than 10 ohms cm2, or an interfacial areal conductivity of greater than 0.1 Siemens per cm2. The catalyst layer and the barrier layer have a thickness of 1-10 nm. The catalyst layer has uniform thickness. The conductive base anode is a conductive film having a thickness of 50 nm to 50 mu m, and is disposed on a substrate of a different material. The structure underlying or supporting the anode mechanically is a conductive substrate and an insulating substrate. The conductive base anode is a bulk single crystal, a poly crystalline material, a semiconductor material, and a metallic conductive material, and has a porous structure and pore channels (32) having a length:diameter aspect ratio of 2:1-20000:1. The conductive base anode has a layer of metallic conducting or doped semiconducting nanowires (28). The corrosion-inhibiting barrier layer is disposed on the nanowires. The catalyst layer is conformally coated on the nanowires. The layer of nanowires has an areal density of 0.1-5000 wires per mu m2, and a diameter of 10 nm to 1 mu m and a height (length) of 100 nm to 100 mu m. The layer of conductive nanowires is made of the same or different material as the conductive substrate. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a method of producing molecular oxygen.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of an anode.    Conductive base anode (22)    Corrosion-inhibiting barrier layer (24)    Catalyst layer (26)    Layer of nanowires (28)    Channel (32)    Selective ion membrane. (34)