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Bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are regarded as promising photovoltaics to harvest solar energy from both front and rear sides because of their significantly increased total power outputs. Transparent counter electrodes (CEs) with cost-effectiveness and high electrocatalytic activity are crucial to make these high-performance bifacial devices. Herein, a category of transparent CEs from ternary alloys [(CoM) 0.85 Se, M = Ni, Ru, Fe] are synthesized by a mild solution method. Upon careful optimization on optical behaviors, electrocatalytic activity and photovoltaic performances, the bifacial DSSCs with (CoNi) 0.85 Se, (CoRu) 0.85 Se, (CoFe) 0.85 Se CEs achieve front power conversion efficiencies of 9.14%, 8.09%, 7.58% and rear efficiencies of 3.86%, 3.31%, 3.51% in comparison with 6.72% and 3.16% for state-of-the-art Pt CE based solar cell, respectively. Moreover, these bifacial DSSCs devices display high multiple on/off capability and relatively good stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Co/Se and Ni/Se nanocomposite films deposited on FTO glasses via magnetron sputtering are used as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells, yielding a maximized power conversion efficiency of 6.43%. Highlights: • Co/Se and Ni/Se nano-films are prepared by magnetron sputtering method. • The as-prepared films are employed as CEs for DSSCs. • The DSSC with Co/Se CE delivers a PCE of 6.43%. Abstract Dye-sensitized solar cells are promising solutions to energy and environmental problems. By addressing the high cost of preferred platinum counter electrode, Co/Se and Ni/Se nanocomposite counter electrodes are prepared by magnetron sputtering targets onto fluorine-doped tin oxide glass for dye-sensitized solar cell applications. The binary nanocomposite counter electrodes exhibit superior electrocatalytic activity toward I 3 − reduction compared to pure Ni, Se and Co electrodes. In particular, the dye-sensitized solar cell based on Co/Se counter electrode achieves a power conversion efficiency of 6.43%, which is much higher than 0.87%, 2.91%, 3.77% and 5.23% for Ni, Se, Co and Ni/Se solar cells, respectively. The preliminary results demonstrate it is a promising strategy to prepare robust counter electrodes by magnetron sputtering technique for dye-sensitized solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]