A polymer gel electrolyte with the cyanoethylated hydroxypropyl cellulose (CN-HPC) as polymer matrix was prepared and applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The ionic conductivities of the gel electrolytes based on LiI/I-2 and 1-methyl-3-hexylimidazolium iodide (MHII)/I-2 as the I-/I-3(-) redox couple were determined. being 2.94 mS cm(-1) and 2.46 mS cm(-1) with the respective diffusion constants of I-3(-) (D-app) of 2.54 x 10(-6) cm(2) S-1, 2.15 x 10(-6) cm(2) S-1. Under the optimized condition, the overall conversion efficiencies of quasi-solid DSSCs were determined to be 7.40% based on a triphenylamine dye (SD2) and 7.55% based on a ruthenium dye (N719), which is 94% of those with liquid electrolyte. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.