The energy transfer from the semiconducting hosts, poly (N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK), 2-(4-biphenylyl)-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) and a mixture of PVK and PBD blend matrix to Eu-Complex [Eu (TTA)(3)(Phen)] is investigated by steady state and time resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. The emission intensity of the peak at 612 nm (D-5(0) -> F-7(2)) of Eu-ions and the photoluminescence efficiency are found to be sensitive to the nature of hosts. We found that the luminescence lifetimes of D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition (612 nm) of Eu-ions are 580, 634 and 427 mu s for Eu-complex (0.11 wt%) doped PVK:PBD, PBD and PVK matrix, respectively. The analysis suggests that the energy transfer from PBD to europium complex is most efficient than PVK and PVK:PBD matrix. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.