TiO2　mesoporous　nanoparticles　(NPs)　doped　with　yttrium　(Y)　ions　are　fabricated　via　an　environmentally　friendly　and　facile　solvothermal　method　to　serve　as　a　photoanode　for　dye　sensitized　solar　cells　(DSSCs).　X-ray　diffraction,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy,　transmission　electron　microscopy　and　N-2　adsorption-desorption　tests　are　used　to　characterize　the　influence　of　yttrium　dopant　on　the　properties　of　TiO2　NPs.　The　prepared　Y-doped　TiO2　NPs　show　the　anatase　phase　and　exhibit　Ti-O-Y　bonds.　The　photovoltaic　performance　is　primarily　associated　with　the　morphological　parameters　of　the　NPs.　At　the　optimum　Y　concentration　of　3　at%,　the　short　circuit　current　density　increased　from　13.20　to　15.74　mA　cm(-2),　full　sun　solar　power　conversion　efficiencies　increased　from　6.09%　up　to　7.61%　as　compared　to　the　blank　DSSC.