Improving the performance of FTO conducting glass by SiO2 and ZnO anti-reflection films for dye-sensitized solar cells

•SiO2 & ZnO films were coated on non-conducting & conducting side of FTO separately.•The refractive indices of SiO2 and ZnO films were lower than glass & FTO severally.•The transmittance with two AR films was 14.6% higher than that of FTO/TiO2.•The ZnO film can also restrain interface recombination & prolong electron lifetime.•The cell with SiO2 & ZnO films had a η of 5.79%, 24% higher than that without them.