Samnium(III)-bismuth(III) heterobimetallic complexes, SmBi(edta)(NO 3 ) 2 •7H 2 O (1) and SmBi(dtpa)(NO 3 )• 3.5H 2 O(2) (edta=ethylenediaminetetraacetate, dtpa=diethylenetriaminepentaacetate), were synthesized and characterized by means of X-ray single crystal diffraction, X-ray powder diffraction, elemental analysis, ICP, FT-IR spectra and thermal analysis. The structure analysis revealed that 1 is in crystalline and 2 is in non-crystal state. Complex 1 crystallizes in monoclinic, space group P2 (1) tween Bi(III) atoms and Sm(III) atoms result into infinite 3D network structure. Thermal decomposition of the two complexes proceeds in similar stages, i.e., dehydration, pyrolysis of ligand, and decomposition of salt, and the final residue is oxide. In addition, the spectral properties have been studied through FL spectra and UV-Vis DRS. The two complexes exhibit one broad band Bi 6s6p-6s 2 emission under UV excitation and the characteristic Sm 3+ ion 4 G 5/2 → 6 H J/2 (J=5, 7, 9, 11) transitions under visible light excitation, respectively.