Abstract A series of novel metal-free organic dyes TC301–TC310 with relatively high HOMO levels were synthesized and applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) based on electrolytes that contain Br−/Br 3− and I−/I 3−. The effects of additive Li+ ions and the HOMO levels of the dyes have an important influence on properties of the dyes and performance of DSCs. The addition of Li+ ions in electrolytes can broaden the absorption spectra of the ...