Nanostructured ZnO aggregates are synthesized via a hydrolysis route using zinc acetate dehydrate and diethylene glycol as the starting materials under carefully controlled conditions. They are employed in making a series of pastes with various ratios of the ZnO to ethyl cellulose for dye-sensitized solar cells, where the ZnO films are formed by doctor blade technique. Use of ethyl cellulose significantly reduces micro-cracks in the oxide films. The paste with 10 wt.% ethyl cellulose demonstrates a promising energy conversion efficiency of 3.68% under the AM1.5 100 mW/cm(2) illumination. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.