Syntheses, structures and properties of 3d/5d–4f metal complexes with novel polycationic chains

(1.5nZnCl4) · nH2O (2), where L and L′ are isonicotinic acid and nicotinic acid, respectively, have been synthesized via hydrothermal reaction and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffractions. Both complexes are characteristic of a one-dimensional polycationic chain-like structure. Photoluminescent investigation reveals that complex 1 displays emissions in violet, blue and yellow regions, and the violet emission is stronger than the blue and yellow ones. Complex 2 displays emissions in orange and red regions, and the emission are attributed to the characteristic emissions of 5D0 → 7FJ (J = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) of Eu3+ ions. Optical absorption spectra reveal the presence of an optical gap of 3.31 and 3.86 eV for 1 and 2, respectively. The magnetic properties show that complex 1 exhibits antiferromagnetic-like interactions.