Ca(9)Eu(1-x)Ln(x)(VO4)(7) (Ln = Y, La, Gd, Lu) red phosphors were synthesized by high temperature solid state method, and the formation mechanism of Ca(9)Eu(1-x)Ln(x)(VO4)(7) was investigated by XRD and TG-DSC. The efficient excitation band of Ca9Eu(VO4)(7) ranges from 200 to 360 nm. Under the excitation of 284 nm, Ca9Eu(VO4)(7) shows a typical red emission centered at 616 nm, which was ascribed to (5)Do(r)F-7(2) transition of Eu3+. There exists energy transfer process from VO43- to Eu3+ ions in the Ca9Eu(VO4)(7) sample. The influence of Ln(3+) (Ln = Y, La, Gd, Lu) ions on the luminescence properties of Ca(9)Eu(1-x)Ln(x)(VO4)(7) were carefully studied. Temperature dependence luminescence of Ca9Eu(VO4)(7) has been measured to determine the thermal stability of as-prepared phosphor. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.