To research the effect of structural diversity on citrate-based coordination polymers (CPs), citric acid (H4cit) was selected to combine with Cu(ii) under hydrothermal conditions. A new CP [Cu2(cit)(H2O)2] (1) was synthesized and structurally characterized. The title complex shows a 3D 2,4,6-connected topology with the point symbol of {43·63}{44·66·85}{4}. Inspired by the decomposition and functional molybdenum component, 1 was used as a catalyst precursor to synthesize a carbon-based material (C-1) and a C@Mo material (C-Mo-1) by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method and characterized in detail. The selective removal of a contaminant (Congo red) by complex 1, C-1 and C-Mo-1 in the aqueous phase was also comparatively investigated.