Silica-based composite materials encapsulating luminescent terbium complex of a new podand-type polyaromatic acid ligand, 3,6-bis [(4′-carboxyphenoxy)methyl]-1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (H 2 BCM), SiO 2 :Tb 2 (BCM) 3 was prepared by the sol–gel process. For the SiO 2 :Tb 2 (BCM) 3 composites, the energy transfer from the ligand to Tb ions took place smoothly, as for the original complex, and consequently strong green emission based on Tb 3+ was observed. Compared with the complex itself, the unit-mass luminescence intensity of the composite material is enhanced 16 times. In addition, concentration effects on the luminescence intensity were investigated.