1,2,4-Benzenetricar boxylic acid (abbreviated as TMA) was modified to achieve a functional molecular bridge (TMA-APMES) with double reactivity by the reaction with a cross-linking molecule (3-aminopropyl-methyldiethoxylsiliane, APMES). The modified functional ligand further behaves as a bridge both coordinates to Ln(3+) through oxygen atom and occurs in situ sol-gel process with matrix precursor (tetraethoxysilane, TEOS) through co-hydrolysis and co-polycondensation reaction. Then a novel molecular hybrid material (named as hybrid Ln(3+)) with double chemical bond (Tb-O coordination bond and Si-O covalent bond) resulted. Ultraviolet absorption, phosphorescence, and fluorescence spectra were applied to characterize the photophysical properties of the obtained hybrid material. The strong luminescence of Tb3+ substantiates optimum energy couple and effective intramolecular energy transfer between the triplet state energy of modified ligand bridge and emissive energy level of Tb3+. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.