A novel approach to increase the efficiency of solid-state Gratzel solar cells is presented. Large surface, titania inverse opal films is prepared, and used in fabricating solid-state dye sensitised organic-inorganic hybrid Gratzel solar cells. The ordered interconnected cavities forming the microporous structure allow an easy and desired penetration of both the dye and the solid-state hole conductor material favouring the intimate contact of both these elements through the whole depth of the titania. These cells show much higher efficiency as compared to solid-state Gratzel cells prepared, in twin procedures, by conventional method using nanocrystalline TiO2 films. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.