A new red emitting phosphor, Ca-3(VO4)(2):Eu3+; Mn2+, was synthesized by a citric acid sol-gel combustion method and characterization by XRD, TEM and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The red emission located at about 613 nm was ascribed to D-5(0)-F-7(2) transition of Eu3+. And the red luminescence intensity changed with annealing temperature and concentration of Eu3+. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.