The major challenge of the operation of every solar cell based on dye including water splitting solar cell (WSSC) and dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is the using organic solvent medium which causes to decompose the solar cell structure, resulting environmental impact. Here, we synthesized and characterized two new ruthenium complexes with nitrogen and oxygen donor ligands for DSSC application which show good stability on TiO2 surface in water solvent. Interestingly, the DSSC based on [Ru(dcbpy)(2)(DPC)]Cl, where dcbpy = 4,4-dicarboxilic acid 2,2-bipyridin and DPC = diphenylcarbazide, was shown better efficiency in water than methanol dye loading as well as N3 as a benchmark sensitizer in the same condition. The DPC-based exhibited open circuit voltage (V-oc) of 0.63 V, short-circuit current density (J(sc)) of 2.5 mA/cm(2) and fill factor (FF) of 70%, resulting an overall power efficiency of 1.12%. The incident-photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) value is also reached to 45% for [Ru(dcbpy)2(DPC)]Cl in the same condition It is proposed that the ruthenium complex containing nitrogen and oxygen donor ligands is more stability on TiO2 and prevent the decomposition of TiO2 porous under water solvent condition. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.