In the present work, we synthesized a series of 1,10-phenanthroline-based ruthenium complexes (PRCs). The PRCs were characterized by H-1 and C-13 NMR, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopic analyses. Further, we used these PRCs complexes as effective additives in ionic liquid (IL) electrolyte to enhance current conduction in electrochemical cells. Anodic peak current in cyclic voltammetry response of PRCs showed functional group dependence on the nature of ruthenium complex. Mono-propenyl-functionalized PRC additive in IL electrolyte exhibited relatively higher current density, lower charge transfer resistance and decreased impedance compared to the tri-propenyl-functionalized PRC as well as without functional groups on 1,10-phenanthroline ligand in Ru complex. Finally, the PRCs as additives in IL electrolyte were tested in dye-sensitized solar cell which showed an increase of 65% in the efficiency when mono-propenyl-functionalized PRC complex was used as an additive.