We investigated blends of semiconducting polymers with copper indium diselenide nanocrystals for photovoltaic applications. Depending on the synthesis, the particles are shielded by different amount of organic surfactants. Different concentrations of these nanoparticles were suspended in the polymer solutions and spin cast onto ITO glass. Solar cells were then produced by evaporation of aluminium as the back contact. Optical, electrical and morphological properties of this new prototype of composite solar cells were investigated. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.