Novel red-emitting Eu3+-activated La2-xGdx(MoO4)(3-y)(WO4)(y) phosphors with well-defined one-dimensional nanostructures were synthesized via a supersonic microwave co-assistance (SMC) method for the first time at very low temperature (60 degrees C). Scanning electron microscopy studies substantiated that these phosphors are very uniform. The crystal structure and luminescent properties were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) and photoluminescence measurements (PL) respectively. An intense red emission at 615 nm (D-5(0) -> F-7(2)) was detected under the excitation at 280 nm. The PL properties of La2-xGdx(MoO4)(3-y)(WO4)(y): Eu3+ with different ratio of La/Gd or MoO4/WO4 have also been investigated in detail. Furthermore, the optimized phosphor was embedded into the poly-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate(HEMA) gel and the corresponding luminescent gel was achieved. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.