Two new d10-configuration based Zn(II) coordination polymers with formula [Zn2(L)2(2,2'-bipy)₂]n (1) and [Zn₂(L)₂(4,4'-bipy)]n (2) (H₂L = 4,4'-{[1,2-phenylenebis-(methylene)]bis(oxy)}dibenzoic acid, 2,2'-bipy= 2,2'-bipyridine and 4,4'-bipy= 4,4'-bipyridine) have been synthesized and characterized. Both the compounds had been used as possible luminescent sensors for detecting nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) and as photocatalysts to photodegrade methyl violet (MV) under UV irradiation. The sensing experiments indicated that 2 displayed selective sensing for m-nitrophenol (MNP) with lower limit of detection (LOD) of 1.14 ppm while photocatalytic experiments indicated that 1 displayed better photocatalytic performance than 2 in photodegrading MV.