This paper reports an enhancement of the photoluminescence intensity of Eu3+-doped Y2O3 caused by the addition of ZnO. Samples were prepared by solid-state reaction of a mixture of Y2O3, Eu2O3, and ZnO powders at 1200 degrees C. The photoluminescence intensity of the sample calcined with ZnO of 1 mol % against Y2O3 is about three times higher than that of the ZnO-free sample under the excitations in the f-f transitions of Eu3+. It is shown that ZnO promotes the doping of Eu3+ into Y2O3, from the analysis of the photoluminescence characteristics and the X-ray diffraction patterns of the samples calcined with or without ZnO. (C) 2008 The Electrochemical Society.