The target compound, Trans-4-(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-ethyl amino)-4'-(diethyl amino)stilbene, has been synthesized and characterized. The one-photon fluorescence and its lifetimes, two-photon fluorescence and solvent effects have been studied in detail. X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that it is a highly delocalized pi-electron system structure. It belongs to monoclinic system, P2(1)/n space group. A two-photon initiating polymerization microfabrication experiment has been carried out and the possible photopolymerization mechanism is also discussed. (C) 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.