Architectural design of new conjugated systems carrying donor-π-acceptor groups (carbazole-CF3): Characterizations, optical, photophysical properties and DSSC's applications

•Two new organic dyes containing substituted N-octyl carbazole as electron donor and -CF3 units as electron acceptor group were designed for ZnO based-DSSCs.•The synthesized carbazole derivatized compounds were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HMBC and CHN analyses.•Microwave-assisted hydrothermal method was used to synthesize ZnO nanopowders with different morphologies.