Ce3+ and Tb3+ co-doped NaBaPO4 phosphors were prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction. The phase structure and luminescence properties of the as-prepared phosphor samples were characterized by using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), reflection spectra, photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra, decay time, respectively. Effective energy transfer occurs from Ce3+ to Tb3+ in NaBaPO4 host due to the observed spectral overlap between the emission band of Ce3+ and the excitation band of Tb3+, and the obvious emission bands (354 nm, 489 nm and 542 nm) were ascribed to Ce3+ and Tb3+ ions emission, respectively. We have also shown that the energy transfer from Ce3+ and Tb3+ in NaBaPO4 host was demonstrated to be resonant type via a dipole-dipole interaction mechanism with the energy transfer critical distance of 1.67 nm. (C) 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.058111jes] All rights reserved.