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　1H　NMR,　13C　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.　©　2011　Nan　Yan　Fu.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　on　behalf　of　Chinese　Chemical　Society.　All　rights　reserved.