Y(OH) 3 :Eu 3+ nanotubes were synthesized using a facile hydrothermal method, and then, Pt particles were grown on the surface of the nanotubes using a combination of vacuum extraction and annealing. The resulting Pt/Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ composite nanotubes not only exhibited enhanced red luminescence under 255-or 468-nm excitation but could also be used to improve the efficiency of dyesensitized solar cells, resulting in an efficiency of 8.33%, which represents a significant enhancement of 11.96% compared with a solar cell without the composite nanotubes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results indicated that the interfacial resistance of the TiO 2 -dye|I 3 -/I -electrolyte interface of the TiO 2 -Pt/Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ composite cell was much smaller than that of a pure TiO2 cell. In addition, the TiO 2 -Pt/Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ composite cell exhibited a shorter electron transport time and longer electron recombination time than the pure TiO 2 cell.