Facile synthesis of a Ag(i)-doped coordination polymer with enhanced catalytic performance in the photodegradation of azo dyes in water

Ambient temperature solid state reaction of a preformed compound {[Pb(Tab)₂]₂(PF₆)₄}_n (1) (TabH = 4-(trimethylammonio)benzenethiol) with two equiv. of 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe) quantitatively produces a unique two-dimensional coordination polymer {[Pb(Tab)₂(bpe)]₂(PF₆)₄}_n (2). The Ag(i)-doped coordination polymer {[Pb(Tab)₂(bpe)]₂(PF₆)₄·1.64AgNO₃}_n (2a) is readily prepared by immersing 2 into AgNO₃ aqueous solution. Compared with its two precursors 1 and 2, 2a exhibits greatly enhanced catalytic activity towards the photodegradation of a family of 12 azo dyes within a short period of time under UV light irradiation and excellent adaptability on the elimination of azo dyes in water. It is anticipated that the 'Ag(i)-doping' synthetic strategy reported in this work may be applicable to other coordination polymer systems containing thiolate ligands for the preparation of various metal ion-doped multidimensional coordination polymers with new topological structures and better catalytic performances in the photodecomposition of azo dyes in industrial wastewater.