Synergistic efficacy unleashed: Co/Ni-based catalysts as a versatile powerhouse for photocatalytic degradation of ornidazole

Abstract

Preserving the environment, ensuring civilian safety and safeguarding human health demand the targeted and precise decomposition of harmful wastewater components. In recent decades, coordination polymers (CPs) have proven effective as photocatalysts for detecting and breaking down antibiotics, offering a promising solution to this pressing issue. Three new stable CPs of [Co(HL)(1,4-bib)·H2O]n (1), [Co(HL)(4,4-bib)]n (2) and [Ni(HL)(4,4-bib)]n (3), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions using the main ligand 4′-(3,4-dicarboxylphenyloxy)-4-biphenylcarboxylic acid (H3L), 4-bis(1-imidazoly)benzene (1,4-bib) and 4,4′-bis(imidazolyl)biphenyl (4,4-bib) as a spacer. Characterization via various spectral techniques and single crystal X-ray studies confirmed their structures. Furthermore, the CPs 1–3 demonstrated efficacy as catalysts for the degradation of the antibiotic ornidazole (ODZ) in an aqueous medium, with catalyst (3) exhibiting notably high selectivity and efficiency compared to the other two CPs.