A comparative study has been performed for Laser induced photo-catalytic oxidation/splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen over Fe2O3, WO3, TiO2 and NiO catalysts under the irradiation of a strong laser beam at 355 ran for the first time. The activity of these catalysts and various electron capture agents such as Fe+3, Ag+, Al+3, and Li+ in the water splitting process was investigated. The yield of hydrogen and oxygen produced was enhanced considerably by the addition of electron capture agents. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.