A new dinuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridine complex has been successfully synthesized. The new compound has been characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. Its potential application as a sensitizing dye in dye-sensitized solar cells has been checked under AM 1.5 G irradiation conditions (100 mW cm(-2)) and its performance was compared to that of a commercially available mononuclear analogous dye. The overall light-to-electricity conversion efficiency of the photovoltaic device sensitized by the new dinuclear dye has been found to be over 2.5 times lower than that sensitized by the commercial analogue, despite a much higher extinction coefficient of the former dye. The probable reasons for the lower photovoltaic activity are discussed. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.