Silica gel luminophors containing 1,10-phenanthroline-tris(m-methylbenzoate) europium (or terbium) complexes were prepared by sol-gel method. The thermal decomposition, excitation and emission spectra for the gel phosphors were measured and compared with that of solid complex powders. The thermal stability of the complexes was enhanced in SiO2 host matrix and the luminescence intensity remained unchanged.