Novel red phosphors Na2CaSiO4:xEu(3+) were synthesized using high temperature solid-state reaction and their luminescence characteristics were investigated for the first time. The excitation spectra indicate that the Na2CaSiO4:xEu(3+) phosphors can be effectively excited by ultraviolet (393 nm) light. The emission spectra of Na2CaSiO4:xEu(3+) phosphors invariably exhibit four peaks assigned to the D-5(D)-F-7(J) (J = 1, 2, 3 and 4) transitions of Eu3+ under 393 nm excitation. The Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates and quantum efficiency (QE) are (0.66, 0.34) and 58.9%, respectively. The good color saturation and high quantum efficiency indicate that Na2CaSiO4:Eu3+ phosphors are potential candidate for light-emitting diodes. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.