Novel silicate-based phosphors-NaCaGaSi2O7:RE, Li+ (RE = Ce3+, Eu3+ or Tb3+) was synthesized by a solid state reaction. The crystal structure, luminescence properties, as well as concentration quenching, thermal stability and CIE chromaticity coordinates were investigated. By introducing Ce3+, Eu3+ and Tb3+ into NaCaGaSi2O7, an intense blue emission at 388 nm, red emission at 613 nm and green emission at 541 nm could be generated in optimal excitation wavelengths of 332 nm, 393 nm and 377 nm, respectively. The optimized doping concentration and critical energy transfer distance of Ce3+, Eu3+ and Tb3+ in NaCaGaSi2O7 were determined to be 1,10, 25 mol% and 30.61,10.47 and 14.21 A, respectively. The CIE coordinates of NaCaGaSi2O7: 1% Ce3+,1%Li+, NaCaGaSi2O7: 10% Eu3+,10% Li+ and NaCaGaSi2O7: 25%Tb3+, 25% Li+ phosphors were (0.1602, 0.0192), (0.6470, 0.3493) and (0.3211, 0.4820), respectively. The results indicate that the as-synthesized NaCaGaSi2O7:RE, Li+ phosphors were potential candidates for UV-LEDs. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.