By using a composite subphase, the atypical amphiphilic rare earth complex REL3Phen molecules (figure 1) without long hydrophobic chains were fabricated into LB films, where RE denotes Eu(III), Sm(III) and Tb(III); L denotes b-diketone ligands acac (acetylacetone), TFA(trifluoroacetylacetone), HFA(Hexafluoro- acetylacetone) and TTA(thenoyltrifluoroacetone); and Phen denotes 1,10-phenanthroline. Excited by ultraviolet irradiation, the LB film containing the Eu(III) or Sm(III) complex can emit strong red fluorescence, and the LB film containing the Tb(III) complex can emit strong green fluorescence. The fluorescence signal can be detected from a single layer.