Rough, high surface area nanocrystalline TiO₂ film electrodes prepared by a doctor blade technique were successfully sensitized by light harvesting molecular antennas consisting of Ru(II) complexes with bpy and dpp ligands, bearing functional anchoring groups(-COOH). A new solid-state composite electrolyte based on polyethylene oxide (PEO) filled with titania and containing the I^-/I₃^-  red-ox couple was prepared and characterized. The efficiency of the corresponding dye-sensitized solar cells was investigated and directly compared to the performance of similar cells using the N₃ dye. In the light of the obtained results, optimisation of the cell components is discussed in terms of efficiency, lifetime and stability aw well as possible practical application.