Surface-doped Pt3Ni on carbon nanofibers (Pt3Ni/CN) with molybdenum (Mo-Pt3Ni/CN) was used as counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) for the first time. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Tafel polarization results indicate that Mo-Pt3Ni/CN has a high electrocatalytic activity and facilitates rapid charge transfer. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the DSSCs with Mo-Pt3Ni/CNs as counter electrode increased to 9.47%, which is significantly higher than the Pt counter electrode (7.1%), measured with simulated full solar intensity (AM1.5 G). (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.