A spray pyrolysis process was used to prepare spherical yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3Al5O12:Tb) phosphor particles with enhanced luminescence properties. The aim of the process was to improve the morphology and luminescent intensity of the Y3Al5O12:Tb phosphor particles by modifying the precursor solution. The particles produced from a nitrate aqueous solution were spherical with a hollow structure that was deformed by the post treatment at 1400 degrees C. To avoid the hollowness, the nitrate solution was modified by the addition of an NH4OH solution so that a polycation solution could be obtained. Compared with the hollow particles prepared from the nitrate aqueous solution, the Y3Al5O12:Tb particles with the spherical morphology and nonaggregated structure, even after the post treatment, were successfully prepared and found to have an improved photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence intensity. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.