Ternary complexes of europium and terbium with benzoic acid and 1, 10-phenanthroline [RE(BA)3phen] (BA=benzoate phen=1,10-phenanthroline) were introduced into a silica matrix by sol-gel method. The thermal stability and luminescence behavior of the complexes in silica gels were studied in comparison with the corresponding solid-state complexes by thermal decomposition, excitation and emission spectra. The thermal stability of the complexes is enhanced in silica gel matrix and the luminescence remaines unchanged.