Visible-light activation of a Ru(II) complex catalyst via a carbazole-modified donor–acceptor ligand for CO2 reduction

Visible-light activation of photocatalysts is crucial for effectively utilizing solar energy in molecular conversions. This study demonstrates that modifying the bipyridine ligand with carbazole enables visible-light activation of a Ru(II) carbonyl complex catalyst, which was originally developed as an electrocatalyst for CO2 reduction but is inactive as a photocatalyst on its own. The present study opens avenues for individually designing light-absorbing ligands and catalytic functions within one mononuclear complex.