The present invention relates to an arene ruthenium complex, comprising as primary ligand an imidazole [4,5f][1,10] phenanthroline derivative, wherein the imidazole [4,5f][1,10] phenanthroline derivative is represented by the following structural formula:wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently selected from the group consisting of -H, -Cl, -F, -Br, -I, -CF3, -NO2, -OCH3, -OH, -COOH, -CH3, -N(CH3)2, -C2H2, -SO2CH3, a substituted or non-substituted alkyl with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or non-substituted phenyl, a substituted or non-substituted pyridyl, a substituted or non-substituted furyl, a substituted or non-substituted pyrrolyl, a substituted or non-substituted thiazyl;wherein substituent groups in the substituted phenyl, the substituted pyridyl, the substituted furyl, the substituted thiazyl and the substituted pyrrolyl are independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, nitro, halogen, amido, carboxyl, cyano, thiol, cycloalkyl with 3 to 8 carbon atoms, SO3H, alkyl with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkenyl with 2 to 6 carbon atoms, alkynyl with 2 to 6 carbon atoms, C1-C6 alkylhydroxy, C1-C6 alkylamino, CO2R', CONR'R', COR', SO2R'R', C1-C6 alkoxyl, C1-C6 alkyl thiol, -N=NR', -NR'R' and C1-C6 trifloro alkyl;wherein the R' group is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl with 1 to 6 carbon atoms and phenyl.