SrTiO3:Sm3+@SiO2 (STS@SiO2) core-shell nanoparticles were fabricated by Stober method after a simple hydrothermal process and then being introduced into the TiO2 photoanode to assemble dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis confirmed the formation of core-shell nanoparticles with cubic structured SrTiO3:Sm3+ (STS) as core, SiO2 as shell. The photo-fluorescence (PL) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectra of photoanodes with different STS@SiO2 content indicate a down-conversion from ultraviolet light to visible light which matched the strong absorbing region of the N719 dye. Compared with the pure TiO2 and STS doped TiO2 photoanode, STS@SiO2 doped TiO2 photoanode showed a greater photovoltaic efficiency. The photoelectric conversion efficiency (h) of 5.07% for 10 wt% STS@SiO2 doped TiO2-based DSSC was higher than that of 3.72% for pure TiO2-based DSSC and 4.29% for 10 wt% STS doped TiO2-based DSSC. This phenomenon could be explained by STS@SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles' triple ability to extend spectral response range to the ultraviolet region, suppress the recombination of electron-electrolyte and lengthen the light traveling distance in the photoanode by the scattering. (C)2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.