The metallic molybdenum disulfide (1T-MoS) has recently been recognized as a promising counter electrode (CE) material for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). However, its poor structural stability has limited its broader application. Herein to address this challenge, diatomic selenium (Se) and nickel (Ni) were doped into MoS to facilitate the phase conversion of 2H-MoS to 1T-MoS. This doped material was then integrated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via a hydrothermal method to develop a bifunctional Ni-Se-MoS/rGO CE material for QDSSCs. The nanocomposite was characterized using XRD, SEM, FTIR, UV–vis spectroscopy, and electrochemical techniques, confirming the successful formation of the rGO/1T-MoS nanostructure. SEM images revealed Ni-Se-MoS loosely packed onto rGO sheets, and the XRD pattern confirmed the presence of the 1T-MoS/rGO composite. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry demonstrated excellent electrochemical properties, including a low charge transfer resistance (8.52 ) and a high electrochemical surface area. Tauc plot analysis showed a reduced bandgap of 1.8 eV for Ni-Se-MoS/rGO compared to 2.0 eV for Ni-Se-MoS. These improvements significantly enhance electron lifetime, charge transfer, and charge separation, resulting in superior overall performance of QDSSCs. This study highlights Ni-Se-MoS/rGO as a highly efficient and stable photovoltaic CE material for QDSSCs.