This study develops a novel dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) through four main improvements. (1) The counter electrode was modified by replacing conventional soot-based nanocarbon with readily available graphite sheets. (2) A gel-type electrolyte was formulated to reduce the evaporation and leakage of the liquid electrolyte. (3) The dye source was extracted from Taiwanese quinoa husks, an agricultural waste product. Using 75% ethanol as a solvent and microwave-assisted extraction, pigment extraction efficiency was enhanced. The dye solution was adjusted to a pH of around 4.8, yielding the best photovoltaic performance. (4) For the photoanode, nano-grade titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was employed, mixed with acetic acid and Triton X-100. After adding copper sulfate, the cell’s power generation efficiency increased by 1.43 times. The resulting third-generation cell uses a carbon–gel–copper mesh electrode as the counter electrode, forming a photo–carbon hybrid DSSC capable of both solar energy conversion and carbon capture. Under illumination, the cell achieved a maximum open-circuit voltage of 1.120 V and a maximum short-circuit current of 0.622 mA. This innovation introduces a new concept of sustainability: simultaneously capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide while utilizing solar energy.