This work presents the synthesis by plasma and characterization of luminescent polymer thin films of dibenzothiophene (DBT) by plasma polymerization. The DBT is solid at room conditions and was sublimated and introduced to the plasma reactor to produce the chemical reactions with the vapors. The results indicated the production of polymers with benzene and thiophene rings in the structure as well as methylene groups. The polymer structure was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and (13)C-CPMAS. The thermal analysis showed a residual mass of 60% at 800 degrees C, which suggests a great thermal resilience in the polymer. The critical superficial tension was calculated with a Zisman plot and was 25 mN/m. The polymer has a fluorescent green emission between 400 and 660 nm and an orange emission between 660 and 850 nm. This effect can be a consequence of the electronic distribution along the structure in aliphatic and aromatic segments with benzene and thiophene rings. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 123: 1120-1124, 2012