TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: At least one first molecule is a chromophore or catalyst. At least one second molecule is conducting. At least one second molecule is semiconducting. At least one second molecule is insulating. At least some of the metal oxide is in the form of nanoparticles, nanocrystals, nanocolumns, nanotubes, nanosheets, nanowires, nanotips, nanoflowers, nanohorns, nano-onions, dendritic nanowires, or its combination. The metal oxide is selected from tin oxide (SnO2), TiO2, niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5), strontium titanate (SrTiO3), zinc stannate (Zn2SnO4), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), nickel oxide (NiO), tantalum (Ta)-doped TiO2, niobium (Nb)-doped TiO2, fluorine-doped tin oxide, indium tin oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide and its combinations. The surface linking group is selected from -COOH, -PO3H2, -SO3H, -OPO3H, -OSO3H, -PH(OH)2, -CH(CO2H)2, -CH=C(CO2H)2, -CONHOH, -CSSH, CSOH, and its combinations. At least one second molecule is selected from oxide dielectrics, oxide conductors, oxide semiconductors, ternary oxides, nitride dielectrics, nitride semiconductors, metallic nitrides, group II-VI semiconductors, group II-VI based phosphors, group II-V semiconductors, fluorides, calcium fluoride (CaF2), strontium fluoride (SrF2), magnesium fluoride (MgF2), lanthanum fluoride (LaF3), and zinc fluoride (ZnF2), elements, lead sulfide (PbS), tin sulfide (SnS), indium sulfide (ln2S3), tin sulfide (Sb2S3), copper sulfide (CuxS), copper gallium sulfide (CuGaS2), tungsten sulfide (WS2), silicon carbide (SiC), Ge2Sb2Te5, and its combinations. At least one second molecule is selected from aluminum oxide (Al2O3), ZrO2, and hafnium oxide (HfO2) and its combinations. At least one first molecule is selected from ruthenium coordination complexes, osmium coordination complexes, copper coordination complexes, porphyrins, phythalocyanines, and organic dyes, and its combinations. One or more of at least one second molecule are bonded to one or more surface linking groups; or one or more of at least one second molecule are bonded to another second molecule. Preferred Parameters: The desorption rate constant of at least one first molecule measured in water (kdes) is equal to or less than about 3.9x10-5/s; or the desorption rate constant of at least one first molecule measured at pH 8.5 (kdes) is equal to or less than about 10.9x10-5/s. The cross surface electron diffusion coefficient (Dapp) is equal to or less than about 1.32x 10-10 cm2/s. The electron ejection efficiency ((phi)inj) is equal to or greater than about 47%. The back electron transfer rate(kbet) is equal to or less than about 4.8x10-4/s.