The crystal structure of a ternary Tm(DBM)(3)phen complex (DBM - dibenzoylmethane; phen = 1. 10-phenanthroline) and the synthesis of hybrid mesoporous material in which the complex covalently bonded to mesoporous MCM-41 are reported. Crystal data: Tm(DBM)(3)phen C59H47N2O7Tm, monoclinic P21/c, a = 19.3216(12) A, b = 10.6691(7) A, c = 23.0165(15)A, alpha = 90, beta = 91.6330(10), gamma = 90, V = 4742.8(5) A(3), Z = 4. The properties of the Tm(DBM)(3)phen complex and the corresponding hybrid mesoporous material [Tm(DBM)(3)phen-MCM-41] have been studied. The results reveal that the Tm(DBM)(3)phen complex is successfully covalently bonded to MCM-41. Both Tm(DBM)(3)phen complex and Tm(DBM)3phen-MCM-41 display typical near-infrared (NIR) luminescence upon excitation at the maximum absorption of the ligands, which contributes to the efficient energy transfer from the ligands to the Tm3+ ion, an antenna effect, The full width at half maximum (FWHM) centered at 1474 nm in the emission Spectrum of Tm(DBM)(3)phen-MCM-41 is 110nm, which is the potential candidate of broadening amplification band from C band (1530-1560 nm) to S+ band (1450-1480 nm) in optical area. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.