Studies on the efficiency enhancement of co-sensitized, transparent DSSCs by employment of core-shell-shell gold nanorods

•Au@SiO2-TiO2 nanorods (GNRs) with a 3:1 aspect ratio were prepared using a specific procedure.•Thermal sintering of GNRs-containing TiO2 pastes partially altered the nanoparticles aspect ratio.•Sintered GNRs were still able to enhance NIR light-harvesting of a squaraine sensitizer via LSPR.•Transparent DSSCs were built with GNRs-containing TiO2 anodes sensitized by specific dye cocktails.•A 23% efficiency improvement was found for the L1/SQ2 dye cocktail relative to the Au-free cell.