NOVELTY - As pigments in dye sensitized solar cells, at least one carotenoid compound selected from asymmetric carotenoid, symmetric carotenoid, hydroxy ketone or symmetric and asymmetric open chain carotenoid, is used.    USE - As pigments in dye sensitized solar cells (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The carotenoid compounds (I)-(VI) exhibit maximum light conversion efficiency, and hence the carotenoid compounds are useful as light harvesting pigments in dye sensitized solar cells.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - As pigments in dye sensitized solar cells, at least one compound selected from asymmetric carotenoid of formula (I), symmetric 30C and 40C carotenoid of formula (II), hydroxy ketones of formulae (III)-(V), or symmetric and asymmetric open chain carotenoid of formula (VI) is used.    A1 and A2=H, OH, =O, -OC(O)R1;    n=0-4;    o=1 or 2;    R=-CO-R1, -CO-OR1, -CO-C(CH3)2-O-CO-R1 or -CH(O-CO-R1)-(C(CH3)2-(O-CO-R1));    R1=H, 1-16C alkyl, 1-16C alkenyl or 5-8C cycloalkyl;    A1a and A2a=H, OH, =O or -OC(O)R';    B1=H;or    B1+B2==O;    B2=H, OH or -OC(O)R';    m=0 or 1;    R'=-NH-CH(R1')-COOR2', -OR3, -(Y')m-Z';    R1'= H or residue of protein-forming amino acid;    R2' and R3=1-6C alkyl or 3-8C cycloalkyl;    Y'=1-7C alkylene or 2-7C alkenylene;    Z'=-NH2, -OC(O)R4, -OR4 or -COOR4;    R4=H, 1-6C alkyl, (hetero)aryl, alkali or alkaline earth metal salts;    l=0-4;    p=0-2;    q=0-3;    r=0-2;    s=1 or 2;    R'a=H, alkyl or acyl;    R1a=1-6C alkyl;or    R1a+R2a=1,4-tetramethylene or 1,5-pentamethylene;    R2a=1-6C alkyl or 2-6C alkenyl;    R3' and R4'=H, protected OH group or oxo-group;    R5=-CH=CH-CO-C(R1a)(R2a)(OH);    u=0-2;    v=0 or 1;    t=0-2;    R1b and R2b=-C(O)CH3, -CHO, -C(O)OR3a, -C(O)CHO, -CH2-CH=C(CH3)2 or -CH=C(CH3)-CO-OR3a;    R3a=H or branched or linear 1-20C alkyl;    dotted line=single or double bond.    Either one or both R5 are -CH=CH-CO-C(R1a)(R2a)(OH) whereas in case only one R5 is the before mentioned residue the other R5 is a protected formyl group, e.g. a cyclic or acyclic acetal.