Rare-earth inorganic orthovanadates have been attracting considerable research interest because of their significant luminescent features. In this work, flowerlike LaVO4:Eu3+ nanostructures with strong photoluminescence were successfully synthesized via a solvothermal route at 160 degrees C for 8 h in the co-existences of Na(2)EDTA and CO(NH2)(2), employing La(NO3)(3) and NH4VO3 as the initial reactants, the water glycol (water/EG) with the volume ratio of 1/2 as the solvent. XRD analysis showed that the final product belonged to tetragonal LaVO4 phase. It was found that Na2EDTA and CO(NH2)(2) were indispensable in the formation of flowerlike LaVO4:Eu3+ nanostructures. The as-obtained flowerlike LaVO4:Eu3+ nano structures exhibited strong emission peaks in the region of 500-700 nm under the excitation of 335 nm light. Interestingly, the abovementioned strong emission peaks could be quenched by Cu2+ or Fe3+ ions without the interference of other ions, indicating that the present product could be used as an optical sensor for the detection of the Cu2+ and Fe3+ ions in water systems. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.