A dye including an anchoring group in its molecular structure, said anchoring group allowing a covalent coupling of said dye to a surface, for example a surface of a nanoporous semiconductor layer, said anchoring group being represented by formula 1 wherein attachment of said anchoring group within said molecular structure of said dye is at the terminal carbon marked with an asterisk in above formula, wherein G is selected from —COOH, —SO3H, —PO3H2, —BO2H2, —SH, —OH, —NH2, preferably —COOH, wherein A is selected from the group comprising H, —CN, —NO2, —COOR, —COSR, —COR, —CSR, —NCS, —CF3, —CONR2-OCF3, C6H5-mFm, wherein m=1-5, R being H or any straight or branched alkyl chain of general formula —CnH2n+I, n=O-12, preferably 0-4, or any substituted or non-substituted phenyl or biphenyl.