Two lanthanide complexes, $[Ln(NO_3)_2(H_2O)_3(L)_2](NO_3)(H_2O)$ {Ln = Eu (1), Tb (2); L = 2-(4-pyridylium)-ethanesulfonate, $(4-pyH)^+-CH_2CH_2-SO_3^-)$}, were prepared from lanthanide nitrate and 4-pyridineethanesulfonic acid in $H_2O$ under microwave-heating conditions. Complexes 1 and 2 are isostructural, and the lanthanide metal in both complexes is coordinated to nine oxygen atoms. The pyridyl nitrogen in the ligand is protonated to give a zwitter ion that possesses an $NH^+$ (pyridyl) positive end and an $SO_3^-$ negative end. All O-H and N-H hydrogen atoms participate in hydrogen bonds to generate a two-dimensional (complex 1) or a three-dimensional network (complex 2). Complex 1 exhibits an intense red emission, whereas complex 2 exhibits an intense green emission in the solid state at room temperature.