Two types of electrospun TiO2 nanotubes were prepared by the technique of co-axial electrospinning followed by pyrolysis of electrospun core-shell nanofibers at 500 degrees C. The SEM/TEM images showed that both types of TiO2 nanotubes were polycrystalline with diameters of similar to 400-500 nm and crystallite/grain sizes of similar to 10 nm. The XRD results indicated that the TiO2 nanotubes possessed the anatase crystalline phase/structure. Upon sonication, both types of TiO2 nanotubes could be shortened; whereas the average lengths were different (i.e., shorter and longer TiO2 nanotubes). The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with photoanode based on the shorter TiO2 nanotubes had higher short-circuit current density and device efficiency while lower open-circuit voltage than the DSSC with photoanode based on the longer TiO2 nanotubes. The results are discussed in terms of dye loading amount and electron recombination lifetime. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.