Four　new　metal-free　organic　dyes　QX15–18　based　on　indeno[1,2-b]indole　have　been　successfully　designed　and　synthesized.　These　D–π–A　type　dyes　consist　of　an　indeno[1,2-b]indole　donor　and　a　benzene　or　thiophene　π-bridge.　In　an　attempt　to　tune　their　photoelectric　properties,　the　effects　of　different　acceptor　groups　including　cyanoacrylic　acid,　rhodanine-3-acetic　acid,　and　2-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)rhodanine　(DCRD)　have　been　investigated.　The　dye　QX15　with　a　cyanoacrylic　acid　acceptor　exhibited　a　highest　Voc　of　813 mV　and　a　high　Jsc　of　11.0 mA cm−2,　generating　a　highest　power　conversion　efficiency　of　6.29%.　Meanwhile,　the　dye　QX18　with　a　DCRD　acceptor　and　a　thiophene　π-bridge　showed　a　significantly　improved　Jsc　of　11.9 mA cm−2,　which　could　be　attributed　to　its　red-shifted　absorption　spectra　and　high　molar　absorption　coefficient.　©　2016　Elsevier　Ltd