Novel LaPO4:Dy3+ white light phosphors with monoclinic system were successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method at 240 degrees C. The strong absorption at around 147 nm in excitation spectrum was assigned to the host absorption which suggested that the vacuum ultraviolet-excited energy was efficiently transferred from the host to the Dy3+ ion. The f-d transition of Dy3+ ion was observed locating at 182 nm. Under 147 nm excitation, La1-xPO4:xDy(3+) phosphor exhibited two emission bands locating at 571 nm (yellow) and 478 nm (blue) which corresponded to the hypersensitive transitions F-4(9/2)-H-6(13/2) and F-4(9/2)-H-6(15/2). It was the two emission bands that lead to the white light. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.