Selective sensitization strategy for high-performance panchromatic dye-sensitized solar cells incorporated with ruthenium-based double dyes

•This paper reports the fabrication of panchromatic dye-sensitized solar cells.•They comprise freestanding and fixed TiO2 thin films.•The effect of the dye sensitization on solar cell performance is examined.•Dyes with high light absorbance should be sensitized in bottom layer.•Dyes with low light absorbance should be sensitized in top layer.