A silylated-terpyridine(Si TPy) derivative was newly synthesized and reacted with various transition metal ions in the solutions and self-assembled monolayers(SAMs).Composition and morphology of the SAMs were characterized by using absorption spectra,X-ray photoelectron spectra and atomic force microscope.The silylated-TPy compound gave off a luminescent emission at about 456 nm,which slightly shifted to 452 nm in the Zn2+-Si TPy and Fe2+-Si TPy metalated complexes.The absorbed energy can be further transferred to lanthanide ions(Tb3+and Eu3+) to give off the typical emissions of the lanthanide complexes together with an emission of the silylated-TPy at about 363 nm. A silylated-terpyridine (Si TPy) derivative was newly synthesized and reacted with various transition metal ions in the solutions and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) .Composition and morphology of the SAMs were characterized by using absorption spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectra and atomic force microscope. The silylated-TPy compound gave off a luminescent emission at about 456 nm, which slightly shifted to 452 nm in the Zn2 + -Si TPy and Fe2 + -Si TPy metalated complexes. The absorbed energy can be further transferred to lanthanide ions ( Tb3 + and Eu3 +) to give off the typical emissions of the lanthanide complexes together with an emission of the silylated-TPy at about 363 nm.