The new diimine fluorescent ligand ACRI-1 based on a central acridine yellow core is reported along with its coordination complex [Co2 (ACRI-1)2 ] (1), a fluorescent weak ferromagnet. Due to the strong fluorescence of the acridine yellow fluorophore, it is not completely quenched when the ligand is coordinated to Co(II) . The magnetic properties of bulk complex 1 and its stability in solution have been studied. Complex 1 has been deposited on highly ordered pyrolitic graphite (HOGP) from solution. The thin films prepared have been characterized by AFM, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) and theoretical calculations. The data show that the complex is robust and remains intact on the surface of graphite.