The controlled growth of ZnO nanorods perpendicular to substrate surface i.e. c-axis by a repeated chemical deposition method for efficient dye-sensitized solar cell application is described. X-ray diffraction study shows the wurtzite structure of ZnO with high crystallinity. Intensity and newly evolved peaks of the ZnO are found to be thickness dependent. Dye loving flower-like globular architecture of ZnO is observed after 8 mu m thickness. Dye-sensitized solar cell studies show the solar-to-electrical conversion efficiency of 2.21% for 11 mu m ZnO electrode when illuminated with 80 mW/cm(2). (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.