We describe the immobilization and photoluminescent properties of Tris (8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminium (Alq(3)) in the pores of mesoporous silica SBA-15 with amino functional group on the inner surface. Significant blue-shift in PL spectra of about 90 nm was observed and a possible amino group involved mechanism has been put forward. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.