A red-emitting phosphor, Eu3+-doped Ca9ZnLi(PO4)(7), was synthesized by the solid reaction-sintering process. The morphological features of the phosphor were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra, fluorescence decay curves, and the dependence of luminescence intensity on temperature were investigated. The phosphor can be excited by near-UV wavelength radiation to realize an intense red luminescence (613 nm) corresponding to the electric dipole transition D-5(0)-F-7(2) of Eu3+ ions. The crystallographic site occupations of the Eu3+ ions were investigated by the site-selective excitation spectra and the fluorescence decay in the D-5(0) -> F-7(0) region under a pulsed, tunable, narrow band dye laser. The potential application of this phosphor for light-emitting diodes was evaluated by the dependence of luminescence and the color coordinates on temperature. (C) 2009 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3236417]