Y2O3:Eu3+ inverse opal films were fabricated by the self-assembly technique, which had a lattice parameter of similar to 260 nm and a photonic stop band at 520 nm. Near the center of the photonic stop band, both the emission intensity and the spontaneous transition rate of D-5(1)-F-7(1) transitions were modified. At the band gap edge, no obvious change was observed for the D-5(0)-F-7(J) spontaneous transition rate, however, the emission intensity of D-5(0)-F-7(J) (J = 0, 1) was depressed in contrast to the D-5(0)-F-7(2), which improved the color purity of the red emission. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.