The photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) properties of a novel copolymer PVK-co-MMA-co-Eu(BA)(2)(MAA)phen (PKMEu) were investigated. The significant difference between the PL intensities of the carbazole and the europium complex in different states is attributed to the Forster energy transfer from the carbazole groups to the Eu-complexes. The formation of excimers explained the red-shift of the PL peak of the carbazole group, when PKMEu is in a solid state. PKMEu can form good quality film by spin coating from chloroform solution. The single-layer LED based on PKMEu exhibits characteristic red electroluminescence (EL) of Eu3+ with a turn-on forward bias of 24 V The device reached a maximum brightness of 0.228 cd/m(2) at 29 V, with a luminous efficiency of 2.87 X 10(-4) lm/W The relatively high turn-on voltage, low brightness and low efficiency may have resulted from the unbalanced charge-transport and the conditions of device fabrication.