An efficient visible-light active photocatalyst of multilayer-Eosin Y-sensitized TiO(2) is prepared through linkage of Fe(3+) between not only TiO(2) and Eosin Y but also different Eosin Y molecules to form three-dimensional polymeric dye structure. The multilayer-dye-sensitized photocatalyst is found to have high light harvesting efficiency and photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation (lambda > 420 nm). On the optimum conditions (1:1 initial molar ratio of Eosin Y to Fe(NO(3))(3), initial 10 x 10(-3) M Eosin Y, and 1.0 wt% Pt deposited by in situ photoreduction), its maximal apparent quantum yield for hydrogen evolution is 19.1% from aqueous triethanolamine solution (TEOA aq). The present study highlights linking between dye molecules via metal ions as a general way to develop efficient visible-light photocatalyst. (C) 2009 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.