The optical properties of Ba1.6Ca0.4P2O7 doped with Ce3+ and Tb3+ are investigated. Under excitation at 280 nm the emission spectrum of Ba1.6Ca0.4P2O7:Ce3+ consists of a peak at 370 nm and a shoulder at the longer wavelength side. The emission spectra of Ba1.6Ca0.4P2O7:Tb3+ shows the well-known emission lines due to D-5(4)-F-7(J) transitions of Tb3+. The green emissions of Tb3+ ions are enhanced upon UV excitation through energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ ions. The efficiency of such an energy transfer is estimated based on spectroscopic data. The dependence of photoluminescence (PL) intensities of Ce3+ and Tb3+ emissions on Ce3+ or Tb3+ concentrations in the systems (Ba1.6Ca0.4P2O7:0.04Ce(3+),xTb(3+) and Ba1.6Ca0.4P2O7:xCe(3+),0.04Tb(3+)) and the temperature dependence of PL emission spectra of Ba1.6Ca0.4P2O7:0.06Ce(3+),0.04Tb(3+) is also investigated. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.