A　novel　squaraine　dye　(SQ)　modified　by　ferrocene　has　been　synthesized　through　(E)-1-dodecyl-2-ferrocenyl　vinyl-1H-pyrrole　and　squaric　acid.　The　molecular　structure　of　SQ　was　characterized　by　H-1　NMR,　C-13　NMR,　MS　and　elemental　analysis.　SQ　is　high　soluble　in　common　solvents.　The　maximum　absorptions　of　SQ　in　different　solvents　are　in　the　range　of　708-734　nm,　exhibiting　positive　solvatochromism　with　increasing　solvent　polarity.　The　optical　and　electrical　properties　of　SQ　indicate　that　it　is　a　promising　electron　donor　material　for　bulk-heterojunction　organic　solar　cell.　(C)　2011　Nan　Yan　Fu.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　on　behalf　of　Chinese　Chemical　Society.　All　rights　reserved.