Abstract Electrochromic (EC) and photoconductive nanoparticles coated with a conducting polymer, poly(1,4-bis(2-[3′,4′-ethylenedioxy]thienyl)-2-methoxy-5-2‴-ethylethylhexyloxybenzene) (PBETH) were prepared. TiO 2 nanoparticles were employed as a nanotemplate for the preparation of conducting polymer capsules. The PBETH capsules showed blue to red transition by the applied potential showing electrochromic behavior. Electrochromic contrast, coloration efficiency and response time of the EC electrodes coated with PBETH/TiO 2 were significantly improved compared to the electrode coated with PBETH without TiO 2 . Having conductive polymer layer and photoactive TiO 2 particles, the polymer capsules showed photocurrent generation when exposed to a UV light.