TiO 2 , CdS, and TiO 2 /CdS core hell structures were deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass substrate using chemical methods. TiO 2 thin films were prepared by chemical bath deposition (CBD) and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). SILAR was also utilized to deposit CdS film on TiO 2 thin film. The structural, surface morphology, and optical characteristics of FTO/TiO 2 , FTO/CdS, and FTO/TiO 2 /CdS core- shell structures were evaluated. The FTO/TiO 2 films produced by both methods conformed to anatase and rutile phase structures. Corresponding XRD pattern of the FTO/TiO 2 /CdS sample exhibited one peak corresponding to hexagonal (101) for CdS. Scanning electron micrographs showed nanorod structures for the TiO 2 thin films deposited by CBD, contrary to the nanograin structure formed by SILAR. Optical results showed highly extended absorption edge to the visible region for the FTO/TiO 2 /CdS structure deposited by the two methods. The TiO 2 thin films deposited by CBD exhibited higher absorption in the visible region than nanograined TiO 2 thin films deposited by SILAR because of the high surface area of the TiO 2 nanorod. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of FTO/TiO 2 , and FTO/TiO 2 /CdS system were also examined. PEC behavior of FTO/TiO 2 /CdS was compared with that of FTO/TiO 2 deposited by CBD and SILAR. The TiO 2 nanorod thin films deposited by CBD showed evidently enhanced PEC performance compared with nanograined TiO 2 thin films deposited by SILAR.