Electrocatalytic water oxidation occurs on high surface area, nanocrystalline ITO (nanoITO) surface-derivatized by phosphonate-binding of the catalyst [Ru(Mebimpy)(4,4'-((HO)(2)OPCH(2))(2)bpy)(OH(2))](2+) (Mebimpy is 2,6-bis(1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine; bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine). With nanoITO, spectral data can be acquired on electrochemically generated intermediates and voltammograms monitored spectrophotometrically.