Silver-coated TiO2 electrodes were prepared by photodeposition with different light durations. Comparing with the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using conventional TiO2 electrode, the conversion efficiency of DSSCs fabricated with silver-coated TiO2 electrodes was improved from 5.97% to 6.86%. The Ag layer could reflect incident light and lengthen the optical path in electrodes, and also appropriate Ag particles absorbed on the TiO2 surface slowed down the electron recombination. The recombination mechanisms of DSSCs were analyzed by open circuit voltage decay (OCVD) measurements, which provide evidence that the charge transfer from the surface state was strongly suppressed by the silver coating. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.