Luminescence properties of Y(2-x)Gd(x)O(3):Eu(3+) (x= 0 to 2.0) thin films are investigated by site-selective laser excitation spectroscopy. The films were grown by pulsed laser deposition method on SiO(2) (100) substrates. Cubic phase Y(2)O(3) and Gd(2)O(3) and monoclinic phase Gd(2)O(3) are identified in the excitation spectrum of the (7)F(0) -> (5)D(0) transition of Eu(3+). The emission spectra of the (5)D(0) -> (7)F(J) (J= 1 and 2) transition from individual Eu(3+) centers were obtained by tuning the laser to resonance with each excitation line. The excitation line at around 580.60 nm corresponds to the line from Eu(3+) with C(2) site symmetry of cubic phase. New lines at 578.65 and 582.02 nm for the C(S) sites of Gd(2)O(3) with monoclinic phase are observed by the incorporation of Gd in Y(2)O(3) lattice. Energy transfer occurs between Eu(3+) ions at the C(S) sites and from Eu(3+) ions at the C(S) sites to those at the C(2) site in Y(2-x)Gd(x)O(3). (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.