Alloys are a class of rising counter electrode (CE) electrocatalyst candidates for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We present here the mild solution synthesis of NiM (M = Pt, Pd) alloys using zinc oxide nanorod templates and employment as CE electrocatalysts for liquid-junction DSSC applications. Due to the good matching of work functions to redox potential of I-/I-3(-) redox couples and reduced charge-transfer resistance at CE/electrolyte interface, the electrocatalytic activity of NiPt CE and therefore cell performances have been markedly enhanced, yielding a promising power conversion efficiency of 8.27% in the liquid-junction DSSC platform. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.