Optoelectronic properties of hybrid solar cells were investigated by mixing cadmium sulfide nanorods with a conjugated polymer, poly[2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV). US nanorods were grown vertically on Ti substrates by electrochemical deposition through a porous alumina template. Absorption spectrum of the composite layer was the same as the superposition of the absorption spectrum of each individual material. The photoluminescence signal from MEH-PPV film was reduced as a result of the mixing. The energy conversion efficiency of MEH-PPV solar cell improved from 0.0012% to about 0.60% when combined with the vertically aligned US nanorods. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.