Dual-layer photoanode thin films for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has garnered great attention, due to its excellent scattering property, dye loading capacity, superior electron transfer and simple device fabrication processing. Here, we report a ZnO nanorod/ZnO-SnO2 mesoporous (ZZS) composite film as an efficient electron extraction layer for dye sensitized solar cells. The DSSCs exhibit a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.10% and a short-circuit current density (J(sc)) of 12.94 mA.cm(-2) due to the improved light scattering, absorption and interface bonding, which controlled by varying the processes of hydrothermal reaction and solid state reaction. The results further demonstrated that the ZnO/ZnO-SnO2 photoanode structure is a promising strategy with effective electron extract efficiency for efficient DSSCs.