Europium pentafluoropropionate 2,2'-bipyridine complex, Eu(C2F5COO)(3)center dot bpy (bpy= 2,2'-bipyridine), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TA).The excitation spectra of the complex demonstrate that the energy collected by "antenna ligands" was transferred to Eu3+ ions efficiently. The room-temperature PL spectra of the complex is composed of the typical Eu3+ ions red emission, due to transitions between D-5(0) -> F-7(J(J=0 -> 4)). The lifetimes of D-5(0) of Eu3+ in the complex were examined using time-resolved spectroscopic analysis, and the lifetime values of Eu(C2F5COO)(3)center dot bPY were fitting with monoexponential (2585 mu s) curve. The decomposition temperature of the complex was 262 degrees C, which indicates the host complex was quite stable to heat. According to the fluorescence emission spectra, the Judd-Ofelt parameters Omega(2), Omega(4) of the complexes were calculated and the radiative properties were also presented. The D-5(0) radiative lifetime, quantum yield and the stimulated emission cross-section of the complex is excellent, which prove that this complex will be promising material for laser application. (C) 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.