A novel co-precipitation process was adopted for the preparation of highly sinterable europium-doped lutetia powders using ammonium hydroxide (NH3.H2O) and ammonium hydrogen carbonate (NH4HCO3) as the mixed precipitant. The resultant powders calcined at 1000 degrees C for 2 h showed good dispersity and excellent sinterability. Highly transparent polycrystalline lutetia ceramics with a relative density of similar to 99.9% were fabricated by pressureless sintering in flowing H-2 atmosphere at 1850 degrees C for 6 h without any additives. The average grain sizes of the transparent material were estimated to be 50-60 mu m. Optical in-line transmittance in the visible wavelength region for Lu2O3 ceramics (1 mm in thickness) reached 80%. The luminescence and decay behavior of the obtained transparent plate and the corresponding nanophosphors were also investigated.