The synthesis, antibacterial activity and mechanism of Yb~(3+)-Catechin complex(Yb~(3+)-C) were systematically studied in this work. The experimental results showed that the optimum coordination mole ratio of Yb~(3+)-C was 1 ∶4. The minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) of Yb~(3+)-C was significantly lower than that of single Yb~(3+)and C. Yb~(3+)-C exhibited high antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus,Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella, and more effective for Staphylococc...