Solar energy is a renewable and eco-friendly alternative solution of fossil fuels (coal, gas and crude oil), providing an endless supply of energy. Solar cell is a semiconductor device which converts light energy into electrical energy, making them accessible and scalable for production. Quantum dots solar cell (QDSSC) has several advantages such as higher absorption coefficient, multiphoton generation, and tunable band gap. Most of the reported QDSSC device primarily focuses on narrow-band-gap semiconductor quantum dots like CdS, CdSe, PbS, CdTe and InAs. However, toxicity of Cd and Pb concerns make their use questionable for the practical uses. Graphene quantum dot (GQD) could be an alternative solution for the Cd and Pb based QDSSC. GQD is new kind of carbon-based nanomaterials has been utilizing in several application such as photodetector, solar cell, photocatalysis, bioimaging and chemical sensor. Here in, we have reviewed the synthesis of GQD, electronics, optical properties and the potential use of GQD for the application of quantum dots sensitized solar cell. Further current status and future scope of GQD as a quantum dot to replace the Cd and Pb based QD has been analyzed. Here, we propose a strategy to further improved the solar cell efficiency by up to 8%. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.