TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The electrolyte solution further contains inorganic salt chosen from lithium salt, sodium slat, potassium salt, and quaternary ammonium salt. The anion of the inorganic salt is perchlorate ion, halide ion, boron tetrafluoride ion, phosphorus hexafluoride ion, antimony fluoride ion, nitrate ion, bi(sulfonylfluoride)imine ion, bi(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imine ion, (sulfonylfluoride)(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imine ion, and/or niobium hexafluoride ion. The halide ion is preferably chloride ion and/or bromide ion. The molar ratio of inorganic salt to (A-A)2+B'2 is not less than 0 and not greater than 2000. The carbon counter electrode comprises a base and a carbon thin film. The base is made of inorganic non-metallic material, preferably conducting glass. The carbon thin film is made of carbon ball, or compound formed of carbon ball and carbon material. The carbon material is conductive carbon black, carbon nanotube, and/or graphite. The dye-sensitized solar cell further comprises a titania photoanode.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The electrolyte solution further contains organic solvent chosen from acetonitrile, propionitrile, 3-methoxypropionitrile, 3-hydroxypropionitrile, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, octyl alcohol, ethyleneglycol, glycerol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, dimethylcarbonate, diethylcarbonate, propylenecarbonate, methylformate, ethylformate, butylformate, ethylacetate, methylbenzoate, ethylbenzoate, dimethylphthalate, diethylphthalate, and tetrahydrofuran. The molar ratio of organic solvent to (A-A)2+B'2 is not less than 10 and not greater than 2000. The electrolyte solution further contains ionic liquid of formula: C'+D'-.C'+=imidazole cation, pyrazole cation, pyridine cation, piperidine cation, indole cation, carbazole cation, quaternary ammonium cation, and/or trialkyl sulfonium cation;andD'-=B'.The molar ratio of ionic liquid to (A-A)2+B'2 is not less than 0 and not greater than 2000. The electrolyte solution further contains additive chosen from pyridine, 2-picoline, 3-picoline, 4-picoline, 2-ethylpyridine, 3-ethylpyridine, 4-ethylpyridine, 2-t-butyl-pyridine, 3-t-butyl-pyridine, 4-t-butyl-pyridine, 2-propylpyridine, 3-propylpyridine, 4-propylpyridine, 2-N-butyl-pyridine, 3-N-butyl-pyridine, 4-N-butyl-pyridine, 2-pentylpyridine, 3-pentylpyridine, 4-pentylpyridine, 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine, 2,3,5-trimethylpyridine, 2,4-dimethylpyridine, 2,5-dimethylpyridine, 3,5-dimethylpyridine, quinoline and isoquinoline. The molar ratio of additive to (A-A)2+B'2 is not less than 0 and not greater than 500.