A Si substrate was coated with a 100 nm thick tungsten nanocolumns base layer through glancing-angle magnetron-sputtering deposition. 50 nm thick poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) polymer thin films were deposited onto the tungsten nanocolumns base layer coated Si substrate and flat tungsten base layer coated Si substrate through chemical vapor deposition. The photoluminescence of the PPV thin films were studied. Both photoluminescence emission and absorption intensity were seen amplified through the deposition on the Si substrate with the tungsten nanocolumns base layer. The enhanced photoluminescence originated from the increasing PPV surface area, and the excitation and emission cross sections. (C) 2004 The Electrochemical Society.