(Y1-xLax)(2)O-3:Eu,Zn phosphors have been prepared by a citric acid gel method to develop a red-emitting phosphor with high luminance and good chromaticity under a low excitation voltage. The dependence of structural and luminescent properties on the composition ratio of La/Y and on the Zn addition was investigated. The La addition of x = 0.1 improves structural, cathode luminescence (CL) luminance, CL efficiency and chromaticity for the (Y1-xLax)(2)O-3:Eu phosphors. Though the Zn doping has a tendency of further improvement in structure, CL luminance, CL efficiency and chromaticity, the Y2O3:Eu,Zn phosphor without La addition shows the best characteristic. (c) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.