The synthesis of three new zinc coordination polymers, [Zn(3-attz)(2)(4,4'-bipy)] (1), [Zn(3-pttz)(TPA)(H2O)(2)] (2) and [Zn(3-pttz)(PMA)(0.5)] (3) (3-pttz = 5-(3-pyridyl)tetrazolate, TPA = terephthalic acid and PMA = 1,2,4,5-Benzenetetracarboxylic acid), with sodium azide and 3-cyanopyridine via in situ hydrothermal method have been investigated. These three coordination polymers were successfully synthesized, and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FUR) spectroscopy, thermal studies and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The results indicate that in compound 1, the 3-pttz ligands adopt monodentate coordination mode while the 4,4'-bipy ligands bridge the Zn(II) ions to generate infinite - Zn - 4,4'-bipy - Zn - chains, which furthermore through weak C-H center dot center dot center dot N hydrogen bonds to form a three-dimensional (3D) supermolecular structure. For compound 2, the Zn(II) ions are connected by 3-pttz ligands to form one-dimension (1D) - 3-pttz - Zn - 3-pttz - helical chains, and the secondary ligands TPA adopt the terminal mode; the chains are assembled into a 3D supermolecular framework via hydrogen bonds. Compound 3 is a two-dimensional (2D) network constructed from self-assembly of Zn (II) ions and PMA ligands with the 3-pttz ligands by assuming the monodentate coordination mode, resulting in the formation of a 3D supermolecular framework via weak C-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, thermal behaviors and luminescence properties for these crystalline materials have been investigated. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.