NaGd(WO4)(2):Eu3+/Bi3+ films were deposited on SiO2 glass substrates by spin-coating. The as-prepared films were heat treated at different temperatures. The properties of films were characterized by TG-DSC, XRD, SEM and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The TG-DSC curve indicated that films began to crystallize at about 600 degrees C. The XRD patterns and SEM images of films annealed at 600 degrees C, 700 degrees C and 800 degrees C showed that a higher temperature benefits to the higher crystallinity and induces the lower thickness. Meanwhile, it was found that the revolution of spin coating influenced the morphology of films obviously. Under the excitation at 396 nm, NaGd(WO4)(2):Eu3+/Bi3+ films showed characteristic emission bands originating from D-5(0) -> F-7(j) (j=1, 2, 3, and 4) transitions of Eu3+ ions. It was also found that the excitation wavelength has great effect on the emission intensity. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.