Abstract: A system for the photoenhanced reduction of nitrogen. A p-type semiconductor cathode with a band gap between about 0.8 and 3.0 eV is irradiated with light falling within such energy range. The cathode is in contact with an electrolyte and capable of injecting photogenerated electrons into the electrolyte. An anode provides for removal of the resulting holes from the cathode. Cathode and anode are short circuited. For nitrogen molecule reduction, the electrolyte solution contains a chemical species capable in reduced form of chemically binding molecular nitrogen and of facilitating a series of reduction steps on the nitrogen. Specifically, such a chemical species is titanium isopropoxide.