The Sr3B2O6:Eu2+ yellow phosphors were synthesized by high-temperature solid state reaction method. The crystal structure and optical properties of the Sr3B2O6:Eu2+ phosphor was studied. Results indicate that Sr3B2O6:Eu2+ has a hexagonal crystal structure. The excitation spectrum indicates that this phosphor can be effectively excited by ultraviolet light of near 390 nm and blue light of 460 nm. The emission spectrum shows a intense broad band spectrum peaking at 566 nm, which corresponds to the 4f(6)(F-7)5d ((2)e(g))-> S-8(7/2) (4f(7))transition of Eu2+ ion. The excitation spectrum is a broad asymmetric excitation band extending from 300 nm to 500 nm and the main excitation peak is at 468 nm. The average electronegativity of O2- ions located around Eu2+ ion is 1.9991 eV. The optimum concentration of Eu2+ is 7 mol%. The concentration quenching mechanism can be interpreted by the dipole-dipole (d-d) interaction of Eu2+ ions. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.