Titania oxide films doped with europium were prepared by the sol-gel process and deposited on glass substrates by the dip-coating technique. The fluorescence and excitation spectra of the Eu (III) in the films changed as the calcination temperature rose. TiO2:Eu thin films were heat-treated at various temperatures (100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 degrees C), resulting in transparent films. Excitation spectra presented a change in the charge transfer band (CTB) with increasing temperature. Eu(III) emission spectra exhibited transitions arising mainly from the D-5(0) level to the F-7(J) (J = 0-4) manifolds. The lifetime of the D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition of the Eu(III) ion increased in the samples heated-treated up to 400 degrees C, while the lifetime of the sample treated at 500 degrees C decreased, probably due to a change in the crystalline structure of the TiO2. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.