Ti1-xSnxO2　nanocrystals　were　successfully　synthesized　by　using　a　simple　solvothermal　route,　and　its　band　energy　gap　broaden　and　flat　band　potential　can　be　rationally　regulated　with　increasing　x　value.　Furthermore,　Ti1-xSnxO2　nanocrystals　were　first　used　as　the　photoelectrode　material　for　dye-sensitized　solar　cells.　A　cell　made　of　Ti1-xSnxO2　(x　=　0.3)　exhibited　the　best　photovoltaic　performance.　This　is　due　to　its　most　narrow　band　gap　energies,　most　negative　flat　band　potential　and　lowest　dark　current　densities.　After　the　surface　of　Ti1-xSnxO2　(x　=　0.3)　electrode　was　treated　with　TiCl4　solution,　the　cell　sensitized　by　a　mixed　solution　of　N719　and　D131　dye　exhibited　the　best　efficiency　of　4.64%　under　the　illumination　of　1　sun　(AM1.5,　100　mW　cm(-2)).　(C)　2012　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.