Alloying of Pt with Ni microtubes and Co nanosheets for counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cell

•Alloyed PtNiCo CE is synthesized using ZnO microrod templates.•The catalytic activity and charge-transfer ability are markedly enhanced.•The DSSC with PtNiCo alloy CE yields a 8.85% efficiency.•The DSSC has good on–off switches and persistent stability.

Counter electrode (CE) is crucial in catalyzing triiodide reduction reaction and therefore in enhancing power conversion efficiency of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). We present here the alloying of Pt with Ni microtubes and Co nanosheets for cost-effective CE electrocatalyst using ZnO microrod templates. In comparison with pristine Pt electrode, the resultant PtNiCo alloy CE displays significantly elevated electrocatalytic activity and charge transfer ability, yielding an impressive efficiency of 8.85% in its liquid-junction DSSC platform.