Hydroxyl groups in the coordination complex {[Eu(L)3(phen)]center dot H2O}2 (L = 6-hydroxy-1-naphthoate and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) were used to react with ?NCO functional groups of isophorone diisocyanate in the presence of dibutyltin dilaurate. A series of new luminescent EuIII-complex-polyurethane acrylate materials, poly(EuIII-complex-polyurethane methacrylate (PUA complex)), were prepared through in situ polymerization of polyurethane acrylate macromonomers and the resulting material was characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR spectra, thermogravimetry analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The result indicates that both EuIII complex and PUA complex can emit characteristic fluorescence of EuIII ion. Moreover, the emission intensity was enhanced under the same experiment condition when the content of EuIII complex in the PUA complex was increased. In addition, we have not found the fluorescence quenching in this work even the content of EuIII complex was increased to 5 wt %. Such rare-earth complex-polyurethane acrylate hybrid materials are suitable for the photoluminescent applications. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012