A novel europium complex, Eu-2(TDAP)(DBM)(6)(Phen)(2) (TDAP = terephthaloyl-diacetophenone, DBM = dibenzoyl methane, and Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), has been designed and synthesized. Excellent red luminescence from the Eu3+ complex was observed excited at 434nm, and the broad visible excitation band is attributed to excimer absorption. The luminescence quantum yield excited at 434nm (54 +/- 5%) was great higher than that at 380nm (35 +/- 3%). This is the first time to find strong and high-yield excimer excitation absorption for a europium complex at room temperature, therefore, the excimer absorption band located in visible region (400-500nm). (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.