Zn2SnO4　nanocrystals　were　synthesized　and　first　used　as　the　electrode　materials　for　the　metal-free　indoline　dyes　sensitized　solar　cells　(DSSCs).　The　highest　efficiency　of　3.08%　was　achieved　for　a　D131　DSSC.　This　might　be　attributed　to　the　fact　that　the　D131　dye　has　a　greater　positive　oxidation　potential,　which　can　lead　to　rapid　dye　regeneration,　avoiding　the　geminate　charge　recombination　between　oxidized　dye　molecules　and　injected　electrons　in　the　Zn2SnO4　film.　The　efficiency　can　be　improved　significantly　using　a　mixture　solution　of　D131　and　N719　dyes　for　which　an　efficiency　of　3.6%　was　obtained.　©　2009　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.