The CaB2O4:Eu3+ phosphor was prepared by thermal conversion method using Ca4B10O19 center dot 7H(2)O:Eu3+ as the precursor for the first time, which was characterized by EDS, XRD, IR, SEM and PL. The influences of preparation conditions of the precursor and subsequent calcining temperature of precursor on the luminescence property of CaB2O4:Eu3+ phosphor were investigated. The results showed that the CaB2O4:Eu3+ phosphor with maximum luminescent intensity-was obtained-by calcining the-precursor at 900 degrees C for 4 h, in which the precursor was prepared by 0.6 wt% PEG4000 assisted hydrothermal process at 120 degrees C for 24 h. It is also found that the CaB2O4:Eu3+ phosphor prepared by this method exhibits better dispersion and much stronger emission intensity than the CaB2O4:Eu3+ synthesized by conventional high temperature solid-state method, indicating that the luminescence intensity of CaB2O4:Eu3+ phosphor was enhanced by the present novel preparation method. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.