Photoluminescence and photocatalytic activity of a 3D framework based on 4,4′-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)biphenyl as a ligand for cadmium

A novel three-dimensional Cd(II) coordination framework, [Cd(PTA)(BTBP)${}_{0.5}$ · H${}_2$O]${}_n$ (1) (BTBP = 4,4′-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)biphenyl; H${}_2$PTA = p-phthalic acid), has been prepared and characterized through IR spectroscopy, elemental and thermal analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The complex is a 5-connected network with the {4${}^5$ · 6${}^6$} topology based on Cd-μ${}_2$-H${}_2$O-Cd chains. It exhibits strong fluorescent emission in the solid state at room temperature. Moreover, complex 1 shows high photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue under UV irradiation.