Vertical ZnO nanotubes were electrochemically deposited onto an indium doped tin oxide glass substrate. These nanotubes were surface treated with zinc acetate and annealed at 450 degrees C, resulting in a nanotubes/nanoparticles composite layer. Scanning electron microscopy of the surface treated samples showed nanoparticles been dispersed uniformly along the ZnO tubular matrix, which was confirmed by X-ray diffractrometry. Photoluminescence and fluorescence microscopy showed untreated ZnO nanotubes exhibiting blue emission, while the treated samples exhibited green emissions. Ultra-violet spectroscopy of treated samples revealed lower band gap values compare to their untreated counterparts. Lifetime measurements showed higher excitonic lifetimes in treated samples. Conductance studies using atomic force microscopy showed significant improvement in the conductance values for the treated samples. A significant increase in photocurrent was observed in treated samples when used as photo-anodes in dye sensitized solar cells. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.