This study reports an approach for enhancing the luminescent properties of Y3Al5O12: Ce-0.07(3+) using an organic compound precursor. The Y3Al5O12: Ce-0.07(3+) nano-sized phosphors had a relatively uniform particle size, approximately 50-80 nm, when sintered at 1200 degrees C for 1 h. The photoluminescence results showed the maximum peak intensity when the concentration of Ce3+ ions was 0.07 mol. The results suggest that nano-sized phosphors synthesized from organic compound precursors can be used as alternative efficiency emitting phosphors in the LED applications. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.