Photovoltaic response of hybrid solar cells with alloyed ZnS–CuInS 2 nanorods

•We successfully synthesized ZnS–CuInS2 (ZCIS) elongated nanocrystals using colloidal method.•ZCIS were tested in combination with a low band gap polymer (PCPDTBT) as a donor/acceptor system for photovoltaic application.•ZCIS NCs play uncommon role of the electron donor and hole transport material in the ZCIS/PCPDTBT system.•Only electron–hole pairs generated in the nanoparticle phase can be split at the ZCIS/PCPDTBT interface.•An outstanding value of the open-circuit voltage amounting to Voc=1.18V was obtained for ZCIS/PCPDTBT hybrid solar cells.