A　composite　of　ZnO　nanosheets　(ZNSs)/graphene　quantum　dots　(GQDs)　was　synthesized　via　a　facile　synthetic　route,　and　used　as　an　electrode　for　the　dye-sensitized　solar　cells　(DSSCs).　The　ZNSs/GQDs　photoanode　exhibited　a　relatively　high　photocurrent　of　12.2　mA　cm　−2　and　the　power　conversion　efficiency　of　5.27%　can　be　achieved,　which　is　41%　higher　than　that　of　the　pristine　sample.　The　improvement　might　be　ascribed　to　the　superior　charge　mobility　of　the　ZNSs/GQDs　composite.　It　was　also　found　that　the　incorporation　of　the　GQDs　on　surface　of　ZNSs　can　lead　to　the　increase　of　the　surface　area,　dye　adsorption　capability,　light　harvesting　and　electron　transport　rate,　resulting　in　the　enhanced　performance.　©　2019　Elsevier　B.V.