Zn-doped SnO2 nanocrystals with different doping concentrations were synthesized and the nanocrystal photoanode based DSSC achieved a PCE of 2.07% with a high V-oc (0.67 V). TiCl4 modification of the photoanode greatly improves the charge injection efficiency and charge collection efficiency and the resulting PCE increased to 4.32% despite a decreased dye adsorption. The Zn-doped SnO2 nanocrystals will be of particular interest as photoanode material in DSSCs. (C) 2012 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.032209jes] All rights reserved.