Three　zinc-viologen　compounds,　namely,　{[Zn(Mebpy)(Hbtc)Cl]·2H2O}n　(1),　{[Zn3(Cebpy)2(Hbtc)　(H2btc)2　(OH)2]·4H2O}n　(2),　and　{[Zn4(Cebpy)2(IPA)3(OH)2]·2H2O}n　(3)　(Mebpy　=　N-methyl-4,4′-bipyridinium,　Cebpy　=　N-carboxyethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium,　H3btc　=　1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic　acid,　and　H2IPA　=　isophthalic　acid)　have　been　constructed　from　aromatic　carboxylic　acid　and　viologen-derived　ligands.　In　compound　1,　the　Hbtc2−　ligands　bridge　Zn2+　cations　to　form　a　1D　fence-like　chain　with　the　Mebpy+　ligand　suspended　on　the　chains.　Compound　2　possesses　a　2D　(4,　4)　double-layered　grid　structure　based　on　linear　trinuclear　Zn3O2　cluster　units.　The　structure　of　compound　3　can　be　described　as　a　3D　open-framework　based　on　tetranuclear　Zn4O2　cluster　units　and　helical　chains　with　helical　channels.　All　three　compounds　display　photochromic　properties　from　pale　yellow　to　dark　blue　after　being　irradiated　by　a　xenon　lamp　with　different　photoresponsive　rates.　Compounds　2　and　3　can　be　deposited　in　paper　simply　by　coating　them　with　a　solution　of　ethanol.　The　papers　can　be　used　as　inkless　and　erasable　print　media.　In　addition,　the　photo-modulated　luminescence　of　these　compounds　was　also　investigated.　©　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.