The effects of the thickness and morphology of a Pt film coated on a counter electrode on the performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) were investigated. Deposition of a Pt film ranging in thickness from 2 to 415 nm gradually decreases the sheet resistance of the counter electrode. No significant difference in the charge-transfer resistance at the electrolyte I counter electrode interface was observed for a Pt film thickness ranging from 25 to 415 nm. A high energy conversion efficiency of approximately 5% can be obtained for DSCs based on a counter electrode with a very thin Pt film of 2 nm, as well as with a 415-nm thick Pt film. These results are important for reducing production costs by reducing the required amount of expensive platinum. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.