Iron sulfide is explored as the counter electrode (CE) in quantum dots-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs), which is prepared by simply immersing carbon steel in Na2S solution. The photoelectrochemical performance and the electrocatalytic property of iron sulfide are much higher than those of Pt and are very close to those of Cu2S. Since the preparation method of iron sulfide CE is simple, carbon steel substrate is stable in polysulfide electrolyte, the storage of Fe element in earth is very abundant and iron ions are environmentally friendly, iron sulfide shows much prospect as the efficient, stable, lost-cost and environmentally friendly CE of QDSCs. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.