A novel approach for creating assemblies on metal oxide surfaces via the addition of a catalyst overlayer on a chomophore monolayer derivatized surface is described. It is based on the sequential self-assembly of a chromophore, [Ru(bpy)(4,4'-(PO(3)H(2)bpy)(2))](2+), and oxidation catalyst, [Ru(bpy)(P(2)Mebim(2)py)OH2](2+), pair, resulting in a spatially separated chromophore-catalyst assembly.