Photoelectrochemistry of Ru(bpy)32+ in Basic Medium at SnO2 and Metal Electrodes

Abstract The influence of the pH on the photoelectrochemical behavior of Ru(bpy)32+ is examined at a highly doped SnO2 electrode. An important photocurrent increase from pH 11 to 13 is explained by the photochemical production of a long‐lived reductant generated from Ru(bpy)32+. Photocurrent observations at metallic electrodes and the photogalvanic cell behavior confirm this interpretation. Furthermore, a modification of the SnO2 electrode by the ruthenium complex has been pointed out.