Two new Cd/Co-based coordination polymers as photocatalysts for UV-light promoted dye degradation

Abstract Two 2D Cd(II)/Co(II)-based polymers derived from 1-(3,4-dicarboxylphenyl)-4-(5-carboxy-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) benzene (H3L), namely, [Cd3(H2O)(L)2(phen)2·7H2O] (1) and [Co3(H2O)2(L)2(2,2’-bipy)2·3H2O] (2) , have been obtained and characterized. Compound 1 shows a 3D supramolecular network through π···π interactions from the inter-layer phenanthrolines. While 2 has 1D chain construct by the integration of metal center and side substitution of the flexible tricarboxylate linker. Apart from this, the photocatalytic activity of the Cd-based CP 1 was also evaluated under UV light irradiation which revealed efficient photocatalytic activity (52.3%) for methylene blue (MB) degradation without the use of any enhancers. The major intermediate degradation products were authenticated by LC-MS methodology to speculate on their possible degradation mechanisms of MB.