Y2O3:Dy3+ nanorods have been successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method and applied in the TiO2 film in dye-sensitized solar cell. As a p-type dopant, Y2O3:Dy3+ enhances its open-circuit voltage. What's more, it also improves the light-to-electric energy conversion efficiency by converting ultraviolet light to visible light. The conversion efficiency can reach 7.521% when the doping amount is 3 wt.%. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.