Four　novel　indolo[3,2-b]carbazole-based　multi-donor-π-acceptor　type　organic　dyes　QX01-04　have　been　designed,　synthesized,　and　applied　for　dye-sensitized　solar　cells.　These　dyes　consist　of　an　indolo[3,2-b]carbazole　core　acting　as　the　main　donor　group,　a　couple　of　groups　such　as　ethylbenzene,　N,N-diethylaniline,　ethyloxylbenzene,　and　octyloxylbenzene　acting　as　the　secondary　donors.　The　photophysical,　electrochemical,　and　theoretical　studies　indicate　that　the　four　dyes　are　all　capable　as　the　photosensitizers.　When　introducing　N,N-diethylaniline　as　the　secondary　donor,　QX02　exhibits　a　broader　absorption　region　and　significantly　improved　IPCE　values,　which　ensured　a　good　light-harvesting　ability　and　a　high　Jsc　of　15.2　mA　cm-2.　Finally,　QX02-based　cell　achieved　a　high　efficiency　of　8.09%　which　is　very　close　to　that　of　the　commercial　N719-based　cell　(8.26%)　under　100　mW　cm-2　irradiation.　©　2016　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.