Four　novel　T-shaped　metal-free　organic　sensitizers　QX22–25　based　on　triphenylamine　and　indoloquinoxaline　have　been　successfully　designed　and　synthesized　as　a　(D)2–A–π–A　type　structure.　These　dye　sensitizers　have　two　triphenylamine　donors　attaching　on　an　indoloquinoxaline-based　subordinate　acceptor.　Different　π-bridges　(thiophene　and　furan)　and　acceptor/anchoring　groups　(cyanoacrylic　acid　and　2-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)rhodanine)　were　involved　to　tune　the　photoelectrical　properties.　Their　optical,　electrochemical,　and　photovoltaic　properties　as　well　as　the　DFT　calculations　have　been　systematically　investigated,　indicating　these　four　dyes　are　all　capable　as　photosensitizers.　A　highest　power　conversion　efficiency　up　to　7.09%　with　a　Jsc　of　12.9 mA cm−2　and　a　Voc　of　817 mV　has　been　achieved　by　the　dye　QX23　with　a　furan　π-bridge　and　a　cyanoacrylic　acid　acceptor/anchoring　group,　indicating　it　is　a　promising　strategy　to　construct　efficient　(D)2–A–π–A　type　sensitizers　by　incorporating　indoloquinoxaline　and　triphenylamine.　©　2017　Elsevier　Ltd