Disc shaped ZnO particles are embedded into traditional titanium dioxide photoanodes and quantum dot sensitized solar cells are assembled using these electrodes. With the aid of ZnO discs cells display enhanced performances that peaks at 5% disc loadings with a short circuit current density of 15.34 mA/cm(2), open circuit voltage of 659 mV and power conversion efficiency of 5.36% respectively. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy suggest that performance enhancement is as a result of improved conductivity of ZnO discs in the photoanodes. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.