The ternary rate earth complex/polyvi n ylpyrrolidone (PVP) composite film was prepared by doping the rare earth complex of Eu(BA)₃·phen·H₂O into PVP.Ternary complex of Eu³⁺ with benzoi c acid (BA) and 1,0- phenanthrolin e (phen) was synthesized in the alcohol/water mixed solvent,and then incorporate d into PVP solution (the mass ratio of rare earth complex to PVP is 1∶9),in wh ich the ethanol and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) were used as solvent.Ternary rare earth complex/PVP composite film was prepared by doping the mixed solution on a teflon substrate.The composite film is transpare nt in the visible range.The elemental analysis,infrared spectroscopy (IR),X-ray diffraction (XRD) and fluorescence spectra were used to characterize the sample s.The chemical composition of the deduced rare earth complex is Eu(BA)_3phen· H₂O.The results of IR exhibit that there is interaction between PVP and rar e earth complex molecules in the composite film.The results of XRD show that the oriented growth of some crystal plane might appear.The results of emission spec tra show that PVP composite film emits red-characteristics luminescence of Eu 3＋,and the local symmetry around Eu3＋ decreases in PVP composition film compared with that of rare earth complex.The excitation spectra indicate t hat efficient energy transfer occurs between PVP and Eu3＋．