A method is devised for the deposition of CuSCN on ruthenium bipyridyl dye coated nanocrystalline TiO2 films from a solution in n-propyl sulphide. The dye-sensitized solid state photovoltaic cell formed was found to yield higher short-circuit photocurrent, open-circuit voltage and efficiency compared to the cells made with CuSCN by other deposition techniques. Factors affecting the stability of the cell are investigated. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.