Polypyridyl Ruthenium Complexes: Versatile Tools for Linear and Non-Linear Optics

Coordination complexes have been attracting considerable interest due to their potential nonlinear optical (NLO) properties and applications in optoelectronic and photonic devices. Incorporation of metal atoms into π-conjugated systems allows many variables to be adjusted, such as the nature of ligands and metal ions as well as the symmetry of the complexes. In this paper, new ruthenium(II) complexes of formula [Ru(bpy)
₂
(L)][PF
₆
] and [Ru (L)
₃
][PF
₆
]
₂
are reported. We studied the influence of the nature of ligands, structural features and symmetry of these complexes on their two-photon absorption properties to provide useful physical and chemical insights for similar ruthenium complexes.