Synthesis, crystal structures, and luminescence properties of lanthanide(III) complexes with 1-(1H-benzimidazol-1yl-methyl)-1H-benzotriazole

•Novel five lanthanide(III) complexes with benzotriazole derivative have been synthesized and characterized as [LnL2(H2O)(NO3)3]n.•The ligand exhibits monodentate and bidentate-bridging coordination mode resulting in the formation of a polymeric structure.•The terbium(III) complex demonstrates a six-fold increase in quantum yield compared to the ligand.•Upon complexation, lifetime of all obtained lanthanide(III) complexes increases to milliseconds.