Terbium perchlorate reacted with isonicotinic acid (Hpya) and biphenyl-2,2'-dicarboxylic acid (H(2)dpa) under hydrothermal condition, a new ternary terbium complex [Tb(pya) (dpa) (H2O)],M was synthesized. The structure of the ternary complex was determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction and characterized by elemental analysis, fluorescence measurement. The fluorescence spectrum shows the title complex emits strong green light. The crystal data for the complex: monoclinic, P2(1)/n space group, a = 0.8908(5) nm, b = 1.0569(6) nm, c = 2.09690 1) nm, beta = 98.446(8)degrees, V = 1.9528 (18) nm(3), Z = 4, R = 0.0241, wR(2) = 0.0534. The center V, ion is eight coordinated. The coordination polyhedron around W, ion can be described as a distorted square antiprism. The complex forms an infinite one-dimensional alternating chain polymer by bridging carboxyl groups of pya and dpa.