The surface of oleic acid stabilized rod-shape anatase TiO2 nanocrystals was modified by adsorption of Eu3+ ions. The Eu3+ attachment showed Langmuir adsorption behavior, thus the loading of Eu3+ could be controlled precisely up to surface saturation coverage. The Eu3+-TiO2 nanorods show weak Eu3+ based luminescence. However, addition of thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA) leads to coordination of the ligand to the Eu3+ centers and the TTFA-Eu3+-TiO2 materials exhibit strong Eu3+ fluorescence sensitized by the TTFA ligand. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.