Luminescent cyclometalated complex [Pt(L)py]+ (1) immobilised in Nafion film exhibits a solvatochromic shift in emission maximum from 530 to 650 nm upon immersion in ethanol but no effect is detected with aprotic organic solvents, whereas the emission of the [Pt(L)]+ luminophore anchored in silica materials shows a blue shift from approximately 665 to 550 nm upon exposure to pentane vapour but no shift is observed for ethanol vapour.