Alow cost and effective working electrode with one dimensional ZnO nanorod grown on the porous TiO2 film is used to improve the power conversion efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells. The one dimensional ZnO nanorod is introduced into the porous TiO2 film by a simple and facile hydrothermal route, and the obtained composite film is characterized using the field-emission scan electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometer and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The photocurrent-voltage curves of fabricated dye sensitized solar cells are measured by a solar cell measurement system. Compared with the bare porous TiO2 film based dye sensitized solar cell, it is found that the power conversion efficiency of dye sensitized solar cell with ZnO nanorod decorated TiO2 porous film was improved by more than triple. It is mainly believed that the improved power conversion efficiency of dye sensitized solar cell is ascribed to the increased dye adsorption amount and formation of energy barrier between ZnO nanorod and porous TiO2 film. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.