One-dimensional Ca2RE8(SiO4)(6)O-2: Pb2+, Dy3+ (RE = Y, Gd) nanobelts and microfibers were fabricated by a simple and cost-effective electrospinning method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), photoluminescence (PL) and low voltage cathodoluminescence (CL) were used to characterize the resulting samples. SEM and TEM results indicated that the width and the thickness of Ca2Gd8(SiO4)(6)O-2:Pb2+, Dy3+ nanobelts annealed at 1000 degrees C for 4 h were 220-250 and 90-100 nm, respectively. The diameter of the Ca2Gd8(SiO4)(6)O-2:Pb2+, Dy3+ microfibers annealed at 1000 degrees C for 4 h was 140-190 nm. When the samples were excited by ultraviolet (254 nm), the Pb2+ can sensitize the Gd3+ sublattice, and the energy can be efficiently transferred from Pb2+ to Dy3+ in Ca2Gd8(SiO4)(6)O-2. Under low-voltage electron beams (4-6 kV) excitation, the Ca2RE8(SiO4)(6)O-2: Pb2+, Dy3+ (RE = Y, Gd) samples showed strong white emission. The PL and CL intensities of Ca2Gd8(SiO4)(6)O-2: Pb2+, Dy3+ microfibers were higher than those of Ca2Gd8(SiO4)(6)O-2: Pb2+, Dy3+ nanobelts. The CIE chromaticity coordinates of Ca2Y8(SiO4)(6)O-2: Pb2+, Dy3+ microfibers were x = 0.323, y = 0.333, very close to the ideal white region. (C) 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3586041] All rights reserved.