A non-sintering method for preparing nanoporous semiconductor layers for dye-sensitized photocells was developed in which TiO2 particles were electrophoretically deposited on an electrode and post-treated by chemical vapor deposition of Ti alkoxide and microwave irradiation. The method provides photocells with energy conversion efficiency up to 4.1% under irradiation of AM1.5 light (100 mW/cm(2)).