The application is directed to improved dye-sensitized solar cells and methods for making the same. In accordance with certain embodiments, dye-sensitized anodes are exposed to a vapor including at least one chemical that reacts with the catalytically active material of the anode to deposit a silica layer only on regions that are not covered with the dyes. The resulting self-aligned silica layers provide increased efficiency for dye-sensitized solar cells by reducing the leakage current from the anode to the electrolyte.