Zinc　stannate　(ZTO)　is　a　class　of　ternary　oxides　that　are　known　for　their　stable　properties　and　high　electron　mobility.　Also,　its　chemical　compositions　and　band　structures　are　easy　to　be　controlled,　and　which　is　thus　ideal　for　applications　in　dye-sensitized　solar　cells　(DSCs).　However,　the　structures　of　most　dyes　are　optimized　for　the　widely　used　TiO2.　Therefore,　the　efficient　dyes　that　are　especially　suitable　for　ZTO　are　highly　desired.　In　this　study,　the　dyes　containing　phenylene-thiophenylene-phenylene　bridge　(PSP)　were　found　to　match　well　with　the　band　structures　of　ZTO　and　could　be　used　as　efficient　sensitizers　for　ZTO-based　solar　cells.　Moreover,　the　pre-calcination　temperatures　have　great　influence　on　the　band　structures　of　ZTO.　When　ZTO　nanoparticles　were　pre-sintered,　although　the　adsorption　amount　of　dyes　was　decreased,　the　charge　collection　efficiency　was　confirmed　to　be　enhanced　greatly.　A　cell　sensitized　by　optimized　PSP　dyes　exhibited　a　power　conversion　efficiency　of　4.68%,　which　was　much　higher　than　that　of　widely　used　N719　and　D131.　©　2017　Elsevier　Ltd