A multifunctional Ni(ii) coordination polymer: synthesis, crystal structure and applications as a luminescent sensor, electrochemical probe, and photocatalyst

Abstract

Herein, a nickel coordination polymer (CP 1), {Ni(1,4-bib)_1.5(TPA-Cl₂)·H₂O}_n (1,4-bib = 1,4-bis(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzene, H₂TPA-Cl₂ = 2,5-dichloro-terephthalic acid), has been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. The structure of CP 1 is a 3D 3-fold interpenetrating framework with the sqc12 topology. The thermal stability and luminescence properties of CP 1 were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of this material display that it possesses an irregular block 3D structure. Interestingly, CP 1 can serve as a multifunctional material via its luminescence sensing, electrochemical sensing, and photocatalytic properties. The experimental results indicate that CP 1 is an efficient luminescent sensor for the detection of Fe³⁺ ions in an aqueous solution. In addition, CP 1 exhibits a sensitive and rapid electrochemical response to nitrite ions in water solution. The photocatalytic activities of CP 1 were evaluated in the degradation of different dye contaminants (MB, RhB, and MO), and the results demonstrate that its photocatalytic efficiency for the degradation of MB is highest (92.1% for MB, 85.7% for RhB, and 86.2% for MO). The effects of different dyes, different powers of UV light, and different amounts of catalyst CP 1 on the photocatalytic efficiency were also explored. Finally, the mechanism of the luminescence quenching effect toward Fe³⁺ ions, electroreduction of nitrite ions, and photocatalytic degradation of different dyes have been investigated in detail.