Increases of emission intensities for Eu3+ at the S-6 site relative to that at the C-2 site have been observed as UY excitation wavelength decreases from 300 to 200 nm in both bulk and nanocrystalline cubic Y2O3:Eu3+. Analysis of excitation spectra suggests that the energy transfer from the host prefers to the S6 site. In addition, spectral red-shift has been found in both charge transfer bands in nanocrystalline Y2O3:Eu3+ compared to the bulk material. The number ratio of S-6 sites to C-2 sites is also smaller in nanocrystalline Y2O3:Eu3+ than that in the bulk one. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.