Developing　high　active　and　earth-abundant　electrocatalysts　is　a　challenge　for　commercialization　of　dye-sensitized　solar　cells　(DSSCs).　Herein,　a　designed　synthesis　of　CoTe2　nanoparticles　embedded　in　nitrogen-doped　carbon　nanotubes-grafted　polyhedron　(CoTe2@NCNTs)　using　zeolitic　imidazolate　framework-67　(ZIF-67)　as　template　is　reported.　Benefiting　from　the　high　surface　area　induced　by　the　in　situ　growth　of　CNTs　and　the　synergistic　effect　between　CoTe2　and　the　N-doped　nanostructured　carbon,　CoTe2@NCNTs　hybrids　exhibit　remarkable　catalytic　activity　toward　the　reduction　of　I3−　ions.　When　employed　as　counter　electrode　(CE)　of　DSSCs,　CoTe2@NCNTs　hybrids　deliver　overwhelming　power　conversion　efficiency　(PCE)　of　9.02%,　possessing　~12%　improvement　compared　with　the　Pt　CE　(8.03%).　This　study　provides　an　emerging　substitute　for　traditional　Pt　CE　and　a　strategy　to　synthesize　efficient　electrocatalysts　via　rational　surface　engineering.　©　2019