Undoped and Mn doped BaTiO3 nanostructures were synthesized by co-precipitation method and used in the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) as photoanodes. Structural, morphological, optical properties and solar cell performance by XRD, SEM and UV–Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence, respectively, were carried out. The power conversion efficiencies (PCE) were calculated from the current–voltage (J−V) characteristics. To enhance the efficiency, TiO2 scattering layer was deposited on the surface of the flower shaped BaTi1−xMnxO3 nanostructures. Now the results showed an efficiency which is at least ∼20% higher than that of bare Mn doped BaTiO3.