Correlation between microstructure and property of electroless deposited Pt counter electrodes on plastic substrate for dye-sensitized solar cells

► Pt CE with high electrocatalytic property was prepared by electroless deposition. ► The assembled DSCs show comparable efficiency to that with sputtered Pt CEs. ► Correlation between microstructure and property of Pt film was demonstrated. ► A model for the change of surface area of the Pt film was proposed.