A novel lanthanum cadmium complex [LaCd(bpy)(4)(NO3)(5)] (where bpy = 2,2 '-Bipyridine) has been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction method, elemental analysis, spectral method (IR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), electronic spectra (UV-vis) and photoluminescence properties. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with unit cell parameters a = 16.883(2) angstrom, b = 14.382(2) angstrom, c = 18.981(3) angstrom, beta = 96.806(2), V = 4576.5(11) angstrom(3), and Z = 4. The complex is completed by two crystallographically and chemically independent, octahedrally coordinated Cd(II) ion and icosahedronly coordinated La(III) ion. The electronic spectra and photoluminescence of the complex has been described. [Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals to view the free supplemental file.]