The　large　bandgap　of　ZnO　limits　its　application　in　photovoltaic　devices,　thus　the　semiconductor　quantum　dots　(QDs),　such　as　CdSe,　is　utilized　to　improve　light-harvesting　efficiency　of　solar　cells.　The　CdSe@ZnO　flower-rod　core-shell　nanocable　arrays　(CSZFRs)　are　prepared　with　a　simple　ion　exchange　method　from　aqueous　solutions.　The　optical　absorptions　of　the　nanocable　arrays　can　be　controllably　tuned　to　cover　almost　the　entire　visible　spectrum　(>750　nm)　via　quantum　dots　(QDs)　sensitized　attributed　to　the　smaller　band　gap　of　CdSe.　Moreover,　a　typical　type　II　band　alignment　enhance　the　separation　of　photogenerated　charge　carriers,　and　reduce　the　electron-hole　recombination　within　CSZFRs,　demonstrated　by　the　photoluminescence　(PL)　quenching　after　the　formation　of　CSZFR　hybrid　structures.　In　addition,　the　CdSe-sensitized　ZnO　nanostructures　demonstrate　broad　external　quantum　efficiency　(EQE)　in　the　spectrum　from　300　to　740　nm.　Therefore,　the　CSZFRs　nanocable　heterostruture　exhibits　a　photovoltaic　performance　with　a　higher　open-circuit　photovoltage　(-0.93　VAg/AgCl)　and　short-circuit　photocurrent　(1.00　mA　cm　-2).　©　2013　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.