Metal-organic　frameworks　(MOFs)　were　used　for　the　first　time　to　coat　TiO2　to　enhance　the　open　circuit　voltage　(Voc)　of　dye-sensitized　solar　cells　(DSC).　ZIF-8　was　selected　as　a　representative　MOF　for　a　case　study.　After　a　growth　time　of　30　min,　a　very　thin　ZIF-8　film　was　coated　on　TiO2　with　a　thickness　of　about　2　nm.　A　linear　relationship　between　the　thickness　of　ZIF-8　coating　layer　and　the　Voc　is　found,　and　the　value　of　Voc　was　increased　by　55　and　66　mV　for　the　dye　N719　and　D131,　respectively.　Mott-Schottky　measurement　demonstrated　that　the　enhanced　V　oc　was　not　caused　by　the　changed　conduction　band　edge　of　TiO　2　due　to　its　possible　coordination　with　2-methyl　imidazole.　The　electrochemical　impedance　spectra　and　I-V　characteristics　of　the　cells　measured　under　dark　conditions　indicated　the　increased　Voc　could　be　ascribed　to　the　inhibited　interfacial　charge　recombination　due　to　the　introduction　of　ZIF-8　shell　material.　Although　the　amount　of　adsorption　of　dyes　for　the　TiO　2/ZIF-8　electrode　was　increased　significantly,　the　core/shell　structure　inhibited　the　injection　of　electrons　from　dyes　into　the　conduction　band　edge　of　TiO2,　which　decreased　the　short　circuit　current.　©　2011　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.