New photocatalysts based on mixed-metal pyridine dicarboxylates

Abstract

New photocatalytically active isostructural two-dimensional mixed metal-pyridine dicarboxylates, [M(H₂O)₃Co{C₅N₁H₃(COO) ₂}₃])_∞], M = Gd (1), Dy (2) and Y (3) have been prepared under hydrothermal conditions. The structure consists of a network of MO₆(H₂O)₃, CoO₃N₃ polyhedral units connected by the pyridine dicarboxylates forming two-dimensional layers, which are arranged in an AAAA... fashion. The photocatalytic studies on 1 - 3 indicate that they are active catalysts for the degradation of simple organic dyes, such as Remazol brilliant blue R (RBBR) and Orange G (OG) in the presence of UV light. The compounds have also been characterized by powder XRD, IR, TGA, UV-Vis and magnetic studies.