A novel functionalized SBA-15 mesoporous material was prepared through co-condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate with an 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonamide-modified organosilane precursor in the presence of P123 as structure-directing agent. After removal of template, the obtained material was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption-desorption, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermal analysis (TGA-DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and elemental analysis. Then, aluminum quinolate complex was attached covalently to this functionalized SBA-15 by using coordinating ability of grafted 8-HQ and its emission spectra showed a slightly blue shift in comparison with AlQ(3) complex. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.