Titanium tetraisopropoxide mixed with thenoyltrifluoroacetone and europium(III) makes uniform and stable intensely photoluminescent films that can be efficiently excited in the near UV. Formation of the film is aided by partial hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide and condensation due to ambient humidity but also by interaction between this precursor and thenoyltrifluoroacetone. These films make excellent phosphors that can be easily applied on any solid substrate. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.