Copolymers of aniline-g-poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (AP/SMA) and its lanthanide(III) (Ln) ion complexes [Ln-AP/SMA (where Ln=La, Eu, Tb, or Yb)] were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, H-1-NMR analysis, thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. At room temperature, the fluorescence spectra showed that the AP/SMA polymer had a strong, broad emission band at 300-550 nm (maximum wavelength=381 nm) under excitation at 293 nm. Moreover, the respective characteristic emissions of Eu(III) and Tb(III) ions were observed in their Ln(III) complexes. Both the Eu(III) complexes and Tb(III) complexes showed excellent solvent resistance, good thermal stability, high quantum yield, and a long fluorescent lifetime. Therefore, the AP/SMA polymer and the fluorescent Ln-AP/SMA complexes have a promising future in applications of fluorescence materials. In addition, the reaction spontaneously reached equilibrium only after 5 min in the water phase; this showed that AP/SMA has good application prospects in the adsorption of Ln ions. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 3432-3439, 2013