ZnO, SnO2, Indium-tin oxide (ITO) nanostructures have been produced on glass substrates coated with a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) electrode for application in dye sensitized solar cells (DSC). Quasi one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures of different TCOs have been synthesized using the vapour transport-and-condensation technique. Nanostructures with different shape and aspect-ratio can be obtained by properly tailoring of the condensation conditions and the substrate preparation. A multi technique approach, using electron microscopy and DC electrical characterization, has been applied for micro-structural and functional characterization of the nanostructures. © 2008 IEEE.