Dye-sensitized solar cells with sub-5 μm-thick Pt/SiC-P (1.79 at. % Pt), Pt/SiC-M (0.45 at. % Pt), and Pt/SiC-R (0.39 at. % Pt) counter electrode (CE) films fabricated by using three different processes produced power conversion efficiencies of 6.82, 7.64, and 7.04 % that reached 86.5, 97.0, and 89.3 %, respectively, of the level obtained by using a print-Pt CE (7.88 %). These materials can reduce the cost of CEs and solve challenges involving Pt. The power of film: A small amount of Pt nanoparticles highly distributed on a SiC surface (Pt/SiC) shows superior catalytic activity for I3 - reduction. Three different sub-5 μm-thick Pt/SiC films serving as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells show power conversion efficiencies of 6.82, 7.64, and 7.04 % and respectively reach 86.5, 97.0, and 89.3 % of the level obtained by using a print-Pt counter electrode (7.88 %). © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.