In　order　to　make　economic　and　efficient　dye-sensitized　solar　cells,　a　counter　electrode　of　nitrogen　doped　acetylene　carbon　black　decorated　palladium　nanoparticles　is　prepared　via　a　facile　route.　Dye-sensitized　solar　cell　composed　of　nitrogen　doped　acetylene　carbon　black　decorated　palladium　nanoparticles　exhibits　a　power　conversion　efficiency　of　7.95%,　which　is　better　than　the　cell　composed　of　Pt　counter　electrode.　Based　on　a　series　of　characterizations,　It　has　been　detected　that　this　counter　electrode　has　a　better　catalytic　activity　than　Pt　and　will　facilitate　the　reduction　reaction　of　I3　−/I−　rapidly.　Moreover,　the　lower　electron　recombination　rate　and　rapid　electron　transport　which　caused　by　the　improved　surface　engineering　of　nitrogen　doped　acetylene　carbon　black　decorated　palladium　nanoparticles　are　proved　to　be　other　important　factors　for　enhancing　photovoltaic　properties.　©　2019　Elsevier　B.V.