Three novel Zn(II) complexes based on tetrazole-1-acetic ligand, Zn(1-tza)(2)(phen) (1), [Zn(1-tza)(2,2'-bipy)(H2O)]center dot X (X = NO3-, 2, ClO4- 3) (1-tza = tetrazole 1-acetic, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2'-bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), were synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Three different coordination modes of 1-tza ligand exist in the three obtained complexes. The 1-D chain of 1 is built by mu(2)-1-tza bridges. Compounds 2 and 3 are isomorphous, and their structures show a 2-D (4,4)-connected net constructed from binuclear [Zn-2(COO)(2)] unit and mu(3)-1-tza linkers. Photoluminescence studies show that 1, 2 and 3 exhibit strong luminescence. The thermal analyses of the three complexes and the optical properties of 1 and 3 have also been investigated. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.