the n,o ligand, namely 5-(pyridin-4-yl)isophthalic acid (lh2), with carboxylic acid groups and pyridyl group separated, prefers to act as a bridging ligand. its tb(iii) coordination polymer, [tbl(lh)(h2o)(2)](infinity)center dot xh(2)o (1), and heterometallic tb(iii)-ni(ii) coordination polymer, [tbnil2(lh)(h2o)](infinity)center dot xh(2)o (2), have been successfully prepared. complex 1 exhibits a two-dimensional layered structure with (4,4) network leaving all the pyridyl n-donors uncoordinated, while complex 2 has a three-dimensional structure due to coordination of ni(ii) to part of pyridyl n-donors. both the complexes were characterized by single-crystal x-ray diffraction, x-ray powder diffraction, ft-ir spectroscopy and thermogravimetry analysis. the ligand is capable of sensitizing the tb(iii) ion, and both the complexes emit characteristic visible green luminescence of tb(iii). (c) 2012 elsevier b. v. all rights reserved.