Thin-film electrodes were prepared with the laser-ablated BiVO4 and BiZn2VO6 photocatalytic particulates, and the photocurrent action spectra were measured from 350 to 600 nm. The photocurrent of the electrodes prepared from laser-ablated particulates was increased compared to that from nonablated particulates. It was suggested that the increase of the photocurrents for the laser-ablated photocatalytic thin electrode should be attributed to the increase in the surface defect sites on the photocatalytic surface rather than the reduction of the particle size. (c) 2007 The Electrochemical Society.