Poly[aqua­(μ₂-4,4′-bipyridine-κ²N:N′)(ethane-1,2-diol-κO)(μ₂-sulfato-κ²O:O′)nickel(II)]

The title compound, [Ni(SO₄)(C₁₀H₈N₂)(C₂H₆O₂)(H₂O)]_n, contains two crystallographically unique Ni^II atoms, each lying on a twofold rotation axis and having a slightly distorted octa­hedral environment. It is isotypic with the previously reported Cu^II analog [Zhong et al. (2011). Acta Cryst. C67, m62–m64]. One Ni^II atom is coordinated by two N atoms from two bridging 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-bipy) ligands, two O atoms from two sulfate ions and two aqua O atoms. The second Ni^II atom is surrounded by two N atoms from 4,4′-bipy ligands and four O atoms, two from bridging sulfate ions and from two ethane-1,2-diol ligands. The sulfate anion acts as a bridging ligand, linking adjacent Ni^II atoms, leading to the formation of linear ...Ni1—Ni2—Ni1—Ni2... chains along the a-axis direction. Adjacent chains are further bridged by 4,4′-bipy ligands, resulting in a two-dimensional layered polymer parallel to (001). In the crystal, the polymeric layers are linked by extensive O—H...O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions involving the O atoms of the water mol­ecules and the ethane-1,2-diol mol­ecules, resulting in a three-dimensional supra­molecular network.