The performance of photocatalytic reduction of chromium (VI) via a new TiO2 film and a platinum anode was systematically evaluated. The as-prepared TiO2 film is composed of a dye-sensitized zone and a catalysis zone. Charge separation was accomplished with electron transferring to the catalysis zone and positive charge transforming to an anode. A powerful reduction ability of the reaction system was achieved in the absence of any organics under visible light irradiation. Several parameters including pH, dissolved O-2, the primary active species, the durability of the as-synthetized film and so on were investigated. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.