A　new　series　of　organic　dyes　based　on　indeno[1,2-b]indole　have　been　synthesized　and　applied　in　dye-sensitized　solar　cells　(DSSCs)　for　the　first　time.　These　four　dyes　QX11–14　are　constructed　to　a　D–π–A　type　structure　consisting　of　an　indeno[1,2-b]indole　donor　and　a　cyanoacrylic　acid　acceptor/anchoring　group.　Different　π-bridges　(thiophene　and　furan)　and　different　alkyl　groups　(ethyl　and　hexyl)　are　involved　to　tune　the　photoelectric　properties.　Their　optical,　electrochemical,　and　photovoltaic　properties,　as　well　as　the　density　functional　theory　calculations　have　been　systematically　investigated,　indicating　these　four　dyes　are　all　capable　as　photosensitizers.　The　four　dyes　all　show　good　DSSC　performances　and　a　highest　power　conversion　efficiency　up　to　7.64%　with　a　Jsc　of　15.8　mA　cm−2　and　a　Voc　of　763　mV　has　been　achieved　by　the　dye　QX12　with　a　furan　π-bridge　and　a　pair　of　ethyl　groups,　which　reaches　95%　of　the　commercial　N719　dye　(8.07%)　under　AM　1.5G　illumination.　This　result　reveals　indeno[1,2-b]indole　is　a　promising　electron　donor　to　construct　efficient　organic　dyes　for　DSSCs.　©　2016　Elsevier　B.V.