A novel method has been developed to electrodeposit TiO2 thin films from a basic aqueous solution of titanate stabilized by tetramethylammonium ion and containing hydroquinone. Proton formation by oxidation of hydroquinone into benzoquinone promotes precipitation of Ti(IV) species at the anode. The reaction also leads to a formation of a titanate/benzoquinone hybrid material. The resultant hybrid thin films were very flat, compact, fairly thick, and could be converted into a highly transparent anatase TiO2 by heating at 450 degrees C. (C) 2005 The Electrochemical Society.