Two binuclear lanthanide complexes [Ln(3,4,-DEOBA) 3 DIPY] 2 DIPY (Ln = Tb (1), Dy (2); 3,4,-DEOBA = 3,4-diethoxybenzoate; DIPY = 2,2′-bipyridine) have been synthesized and characterized. The single crystals of complexes 1 and 2 were obtained. And the two complexes are isostructural with a coordination number of eight to form a distorted square antiprism. Carboxylic groups adopt two modes coordinating with Ln(III) ions: bidentate chelate, and bridging bidentate. Binuclear complexes 1 and 2 are stitched together via π–π stacking interactions to form 1D chain and 2D layer supramolecular structures. The two complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, and powder X-ray diffraction. The luminescence spectra of complexes 1 and 2 show the characteristic emissions of Tb 3+ ( 5 D 4 → 7 F 6-3 ) and Dy 3+ ( 4 F 9/2 → 6 H 15/2 , 6 H 13/2 ). The thermal decomposition mechanisms for title complexes were studied by the technology of TG-FTIR. And the heat capacities of two complexes were measured by DSC in the temperature range from 258.15 to 343.15 K. The smoothed heat capacities and thermodynamic functions for complexes 1 and 2 were calculated by fitted polynomial and thermodynamic equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]