The ternary lanthanide complexes [Ln(hfth) 3 phen] (Ln=Er, Nd, Yb, Sm) and [Pr(tfnb) 3 phen] have been successfully covalently attached in the ordered SBA-15 mesoporous materials via a functionalized 1,10-phenanthroline group 5-(N,N-bis-3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl)ureyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Phen-Si). The derivative materials [denoted as Ln(hfth) 3 phen–S15 and Pr(tfnb) 3 phen–S15; Ln=Er, Yb, Nd, Sm; hfth=4,4,5,5,6,6,6-heptafluoro-1-(2-thienyl)hexane-1,3-dionate; tfnb=4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-naphthyl)-1,3-butanedionate] were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N 2 adsorption/desorption. The fluorescence spectra and luminescence lifetimes of these lanthanide-complex-functionalized materials were also recorded. After ligand-mediated excitation, the emission spectra of the Ln(hfth) 3 phen–S15 and Pr(tfnb) 3 phen–S15 materials all display the characteristic NIR luminescence of the corresponding lanthanide ions through the intramolecular energy transfer from the ligands to the lanthanide ions. With these lanthanide-complex-functionalized materials, the luminescent spectral region from 1300 to 1600nm, which is of particular interest for telecommunication applications, can be covered completely.