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• A series of four trifluorinated complexes of Eu(III) were synthesized and characterized spectroscopically. • The emission spectra of complexes exhibit hyperintense peak at about 612 nm which is significant for their red emission. • Judd Ofelt parameters provide information about structural and chemical environment around central trivalent ion. • The band gap values show their semiconducting characteristics are responsible for their applications in photonic devices. This article presents the preparation and characterization of a series of four tris-β-diketonate Eu(III) complexes with formulation of [Eu(tfaa) 3 (L) n ], tfaa denotes the 1,1,1-trifluoroacetylacetone, L to monodentate or bidentate neutral ligand with nitrogen and oxygen as donor atom and n can be 1 and 2. The characterization of synthesized complexes was done using infrared spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis and proton NMR spectroscopy. UV–vis absorption, photoluminescence as well as time-resolved luminescence spectroscopies were also employed to examine the spectroscopic features of ternary complexes. The proton NMR and IR spectral information has suggested the bonding of organic moieties to the Eu(III) ion. The chemical shift obtained for the protons of primary and secondary moieties are shifted in an opposite direction. The band gap values (optical and electronic) suggest the semiconducting nature of prepared europium complexes. The trivalent ion centered emission is shown by all the prepared complexes on excitation under UV-light. The hypersensitive peak situated at about 612 nm responsible for red emission is corresponding to 5D 0 →7F 2 transition and found to be sensitive to the chelating environment present at around emissive ion. Red emanating europium materials have acquired significant utilization in OLEDs, flat panel displays and solid state electronics. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]