NiO-carbon composite films were prepared as a low cost cathode material for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by hybridizing the surface of porous carbon with nanocrystalline NiO particles. In combination with dye-sensitized TiO2 photoanodes, DSSCs employing the NiO-carbon counter electrode yielded high power conversion efficiency sustaining 94% that of DSSCs with platinum counter electrodes. Nanocrystalline NiO is assumed to participate in enhancing the hole transportation at the interface and improving the photovoltaic performance. The counter electrode, fabricated by a rapid printing process, is highly stable against heat up to 400 degrees C. The relatively thin film of the present composite electrode can also be employed to fabricate flexible counter electrodes. (C) 2013 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.029303jes] All rights reserved.