Abstract
A novel heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complex bearing a 4-picolinic acid unit as anchoring ligands (trans-dithiocyanato bis(4-picolinic acid)ruthenium(II) (trans-H1)) was synthesized and its chemical structure was identified by $^1H$-NMR, FT-IR and mass spectroscopy. The optical, thermal, electrochemical and dye adsorption properties of trans-H1 dye were investigated and compared with those of the gold standard ruthenium complex, Ru(4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine)$_2cis(NCS)_2$ (N3). DSSCs based on trans-H1 dyes were examined under the illumination of AM 1.5 G, $100mWcm^{-2}$ and exhibited typical photovoltaic properties with an open-circuit voltage ($V_{OC}$) of 0.46 V, a short-circuit current ($J_{SC}$) of $4.10mA{\cdot}cm^{-2}$, a fill factor (FF) of 60.4%, and a conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.14%.