It is challenging to utilize TiO2-based composites with high specific surface area to improve dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) performance. Herein, we report efficient TiO2-SiO2 core-shell composites for DSSCs by optimizing the microstructure and crystalline structure. Mesoporous TiO2-SiO2 core-shell composites were synthesized by hydrolysis of TiOCl2 and Si(C2H5O)(4) under hydrothermal condition. The shell thickness can be tuned through adjustment of the SiO2 addition content. Rutile phase of TiO2 formed without SiO2 addition, while anatase phase of TiO2 was stabilized by SiO2 loading. By addition of SiO2, the crystallite size decreased from 29 nm of rutile to 15 nm of anatase, and the specific surface area increased from 23 m(2)/g to 150 m(2)/g. The best transfer efficiency (5.9%) was obtained in TiO2-SiO2(0.10), which is much higher than that of commercial TiO2 powder (P25). (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.