The novel yellowish green phosphor powders of NaY(WO4)(2) doped with Tb3+ were prepared by solid-state reaction. The powder samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the phosphors sintered at 900 degrees C for 6 h were a pure NaY(WO4)(2) phase for all the Tb3+ doping concentrations. The room temperature excitation spectra vary with the Tb3+ concentration and consist of an intense charge transfer band of WO42- group and weak intra-4f(8) transition absorption peaks of Tb3+ ions. The photoluminescence spectra, excited at the peak wavelengths of charge transfer bands, consist of the characteristic Tb3+ emission transitions from D-5(3) and D-5(4) excited levels to E-7(J) (J = 3-6) levels. The dependence of luminescence intensity on the Tb3+ concentration in NaY(WO4)(2):Tb phosphors was investigated. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.