Dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells were fabricated using tridentate ligand ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(dcbpy)(tptz)X]X (where dcbpy = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine, tptz = 2,4,6-Tris(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine and X = Cl-, SCN-, CN-) attached to sol-gel processed TiO2 electrodes. The ligand tptz functions as spectator ligand and dcbpy functions as the anchoring ligand with sufficient visible light absorption. The synthesized complexes were characterized before using them in solar cells. The functioning of the solar cells fabricated using different conducting glasses was monitored and the current-voltage characteristics were measured. The efficiencies of different cells were calculated and compared. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.