Display omitted ► We designed and synthesized a highly luminescent Eu-containing polymer precursor. ► The precursor shows a remarkable quantum yield (40.1%) and a long lifetime (590 μs). ► The excellent luminescence of the precursor made it an excellent luminescent monomer. A polymerizable ligand, 5-acrylamido-1,10-phenanthroline ( L), was synthesized. Its Eu(III) complex with 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTA) was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, MS, and 1H NMR spectra. The photophysical properties of the complex were studied in detail by using UV, luminescence spectra, luminescence lifetime and quantum yield. The complex shows a remarkable luminescence quantum yield at room temperature (40.1%) upon ligand excitation and a long 5D 0 lifetime (590 μs), which makes it not only a promising light-conversion molecular device but also an excellent luminescent polymer precursor.