Photoanode　materials　with　optimized　particle　sizes,　excellent　surface　area　and　dye　loading　capability　are　preferred　in　good-performance　dye　sensitized　solar　cells.　Herein,　we　report　on　an　efficient　dye-sensitized　mesoporous　photoanode　of　Ti　doped　zinc　oxide　(Ti-ZnO)　through　a　facile　hydrothermal　method.　The　crystallinity,　morphology,　surface　area,　optical　and　electrochemical　properties　of　the　Ti-ZnO　were　investigated　using　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy,　transmission　electron　microscopy　and　X-ray　diffraction.　It　was　observed　that　Ti-ZnO　nanoparticles　with　a　high　surface　area　of　131.85　m　2　g　-1　and　a　controlled　band　gap,　exhibited　considerably　increased　light　harvesting　efficiency,　dye　loading　capability,　and　achieved　comparable　solar　cell　performance　at　a　typical　nanocrystalline　ZnO　photoanode.　©　2019　by　the　authors.　Licensee　MDPI,　Basel,　Switzerland.