This　work　offers　an　engineering　guide　to　obtaining　highly　efficient　photocatalysts　for　hydrogen　production.　Synergetic　enhancement　of　photocatalytic　hydrogen　evolution　from　biomass/water　solution　is　achieved　by　co-modifying　anatase　TiO2　with　single-site　Sn-oxo　species　and　RuO2　nanoparticles.　Detailed　characterization　and　analysis　clearly　reveal　that　such　TiO2-based　composites　can　function　as　photoelectrolysis　cells,　where　RuO2　and　SnOx　species　serve,　respectively,　as　an　anode　and　a　cathode　and　TiO2　is　mainly　responsible　for　the　conversion　of　photons　into　electrical　energy　and　the　OH　formation.　Electron　paramagnetic　resonance　and　infrared　spectroscopy　studies　suggest　a　free　radical　reaction　pathway　triggered　by　the　hole　oxidation　for　the　photocatalytic　reforming　of　biomass.　The　CxHyOz　renewables　undergo　one　or　more　processes　for　the　sequential　oxidation　of　alcohol　to　aldehyde,　acid,　and　finally　CO2　and　CO.　The　activity　results　indicate　that　proton　reduction　is　the　controlling-rate　step　of　the　overall　photoreforming　reaction.©　2013　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.