Photocurrent response enhanced by spin-orbit coupling on ruthenium(II) complexes with heavy atom ligands

This work presents a simple and efficient method for synthesis of ruthenium complexes with organic ligands derivative from 1,10-phenanthroline containing S and Se. An octahedral geometry of the ligands around the metallic center was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Processed in solution into a simple diode structure, the compounds with S and Se presented higher photocurrent response, probably due to increased spin-orbit coupling caused by the heavy S and Se atoms.