A new 3D Gd-based metal-organic framework with paddle-wheel unit: Structure and photocatalytic property

Abstract The hydrothermal reaction of Gd(III) salt with a new rigid dicarboxylate ligand, N , N′ ‑dioxide‑3,3′‑benzocinnoline dicarboxylic acid (H 2 L) give rise to a new metal-organic framework (MOF) {[Gd(L) 1.5 (H 2 O) 2 ]·2H 2 O} n ( 1 ). The MOF 1 shows 3D microporous framework with 1D parallelogram like channels which are constructed by single rod-shaped {Gd(CO 2 ) 2 } n chains. The thermal stability, UV/Vis diffuse-reflection spectra, magnetic properties of 1 in the temperature range 2–300 K have been explored. Also its photocatalytic property against the photo-degradation of aromatic dye Rhodamine B (Rh B) has been studied and the plausible photocatalytic mechanism has been addressed using density of states (DOS) calculations.