Two novel main chain polymeric metal complexes containing 8-hydroxyquinoline europium complexes and phenylethyl or fluorene units: 1,4-Dioctyloxy-2,5-bis[2-(8-hydroxyquinoline)-vinyl]-benzene Eu(III) (3) and 2,7-bis[2-(8-hydroxyquinoline)vinyl]-9,9'-diocthylfluorene Eu(III) (4) with donor-acceptor-pi-conjugated structure (D-pi-A) have been synthesized and investigated as dye sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells dyes (DSSCs). They have been determined and studied by FT-IR, TGA, DSC, GPC, Elemental analysis, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as dye sensitizers. On the basis of optimized dye and molecular structure, they have shown solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency 2.25% for 3 (J(sc) = 4.77 mA cm(-2), V-oc = 630 mV, FF = 0.75) and 3.04% for 4 (J(sc) = 6.33 mA cm (2), V-oc = 640 mV, FF = 0.75), under the illumination of AM1.5G, 100 mW/cm(2). The IPCE of 3 and 4 are 30% and 46% at 400 nm, respectively. Besides, they showed good stabilities with thermal decomposition temperatures at 280 degrees C and 225 degrees C, respectively, which are suitable for DSSCs. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1943-1951, 2010