In this study, self-assembled Ru-containing polymer-MWNTs hybrid thin films were synthesized using metal-ligand (terpyridine, (tpy)) interactions. The subsequent deposition of tpy and Ru-functionalized polymer (tpy-PVA-Ru) with metal ions such as Zn(II) or Cu(II) and tpy-functionalized MWNT resulted in photoactive polymer-MWNTs hybrid thin films. The photoinduced electron transfer from Ru complexes in the polymer films to the indium tin oxide electrode was observed. Although Cu(II)-tpy linkages produced thicker hybrid films owing to the stronger binding energy than those of the Zn(II)-tpy linkages, the photocurrents of the hybrid films with Cu(II) were much smaller than those with Zn(II), probably attributed to the slower electron hopping rates inside the films. However, the anodic photocurrents increased with the inclusion of the MWNTs layer; the polymer-MWNTs hybrid films fabricated by Cu(II) and Zn(II) show 2.2- and 1.4 folds enhanced photocurrent when compared to the thin films without MWNTs. Potential-step chronoamperometry showed that the electron hopping rate constants significantly improved with the inclusion of MWNTs, which may have provided an efficient electron transfer pathway. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.