SnO2　coated　urchin-like　TiO2　hollow　microspheres　are　prepared　via　a　facile　one-step　hydrothermal　method　by　using　titanium　tetrabutoxide　(TBOT)　as　titanium　source.　The　synthesized　products　are　characterized　by　XRD,　SEM　and　TEM　measurements.　It＇s　found　that　the　as-prepared　microspheres　with　a　diameter　of　500–800　nm　are　consisted　of　densely　interconnected　nanowires　and　possessed　a　high　specific　surface　area　of　134.92　m2　g−1.　Moreover,　HRTEM　and　element　mapping　results　show　that　the　surface　of　urchin-like　microsphere　is　coated　by　lots　of　SnO2　nanoparticles.　When　used　as　scattering　layer　for　dye-sensitized　solar　cells,　the　microspheres　show　good　dye　adsorption　capability,　superior　light　scattering　and　electron　diffusibility,　leading　to　a　higher　photovoltaic　conversion　efficiency　of　8.33%,　which　is　a　28.4%　enhancement　comparable　to　that　of　bare　nanocrystalline　TiO2　(Dyesol　18NR-T,　6.49%).　©　2016　Elsevier　B.V.