Conducting glass substrates are modified with platinum by vacuum coating, thermal decomposition and electrochemical sedimentation methods. A dye-sensitized nanocrystalline solar cell (DSC) is assembled by using a substrate modified with platinum as photocathode. The surface status of the photoanode is observed, the surface resistance of the substrate is measured, and the influence of the photoanode on the photoelectrical efficiency of the DSC is investigated. It is found that the platinum film prepared by the electrochemical sedimentation method with a plane, shining and uniform appearance shows lower surface resistance and better photoelectric efficiency than that prepared by the other two methods. The surface resistance is 12.4 Omega (.) cm(-1), using it as photoanode, and the DSC's open circuit voltage, short current and fill factor is 6.2 mA/cm(2), 0.662 V and 52.3%, respectively.