In order to improve the performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells based on ZnO films, ZnO nanoparticles of different sizes were prepared by two methods. Some surfactants were added into the particles to form three types of ZnO pastes. Electrodes of various thickness applied to dye-sensitized solar cell were prepared starting from each of those pastes by the screen-printing method. The performance of dye-sensitized solar cells was optimized via both the selected particle size and film thickness. The reason of the inefficiency was explained by the infrared and ultravioletvisible absorption spectra. In order to improve the performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells based on ZnO films, ZnO nanoparticles of different sizes were prepared by two methods. Some surfactants were added into the particles to form three types of ZnO pastes. Electrodes of various thickness applied to dye-sensitized solar cells were prepared starting from each of those pastes by the screen-printing method. The performance of dye-sensitized solar cells was optimized via both infrared and ultraviolet in absorption spectra.