Four　metal-free　organic　dyes　QX05–08　based　on　indoloquinoxaline　and　phenothiazine　have　been　successfully　designed　and　synthesized　for　dye-sensitized　solar　cells.　The　D–D–π–A　type　dyes　QX07　and　QX08　consist　of　an　indoloquinoxaline　donor,　a　phenothiazine　donor,　a　cyanoacrylic　acid　acceptor/anchoring　group　and　a　thiophene　or　furan　π-bridge.　Other　simple　D–π–A　type　dyes　QX05　and　QX06　based　on　indoloquinoxaline　and　phenothiazine　respectively　have　also　been　synthesized　for　comparison.　The　D–D–π–A　type　dyes　QX07　and　QX08　present　good　balanced　structures　and　show　excellent　photoelectric　properties.　Especially,　the　dye　QX07　with　a　thiophene　unit　as　the　π-bridge　exhibits　the　best　photovoltaic　performances　in　solar　cells.　A　high　power　conversion　efficiency　up　to　8.28%　with　a　Jsc　of　15.3 mA cm−2　and　a　Voc　of　757 mV　have　been　achieved　by　the　dye　QX07　using　an　iodine　electrolyte　under　standard　conditions.　©　2016　Elsevier　B.V.