CdSe quantum dots (QDs) were introduced as an interlayer in the poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT)/TiO2 nanorod arrays (NRAs) hybrid solar cells. The presence of CdSe QDs was found to provide enhanced light absorption, assisting charge separation at the P3HT/TiO2 interface, and leading to a lower recombination rate of the electrons due to the stepwise structure of band edge in P3HT/CdSe/TiO2, which accounts for the observed enhanced photocurrent and photovoltage of the hybrid solar cells. As a result, the efficiency of P3HT/CdSe QDs/TiO2 NRAs hybrid cell is greatly higher than that of P3HT/TiO2 NRAs based cell. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.