Single-phase anatase nanocrystalline HyCOM-TiO2, (Hydrothermal Crystallization in Organic Media) to label this method was synthesized by high-temperature hydrolysis of titanium tetrabutoxide in toluene. The resulting HyCOM-TiO2, nanocrystalites were found to be covered by n-butoxide, yielding mesoporous, transparent anatase films with a narrow pore size distribution and good electron transport characteristic when sintered at 350-550 degrees C on optically transparent conducting glass. Dye-sensitized solar cells made of the Ru-dye-adsorbed mesoporous HyCOM films as photoanodes achieved better photo-energy conversion efficiency as compared to those prepared using commercially available Degussa P25 films. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.