A series of Tb3+-doped europium-based molybdate red-emitting phosphors (LiEuMo2O8) were prepared by solid-state reaction method, their crystal structure and luminescence properties have been investigated by X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectra, diffuse reflectance spectra, photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation spectra. Partial substitution of Li+ by Tb3+ slightly distorts the host lattice, red-shifts the absorption edge of host and improves Eu3+ red-emitting intensity in LiEuMo2O8 compound. The red-emitting intensity of LiEuMo2O8 powder is enhanced by 30% at the doping level of 0.02 under excitation at 395 nm. In present study, we found that the contribution of Tb3+ -> Eu3+ energy transfer to the enhanced Eu3+ emission is little since the Tb3+ ions are not responsive to the near ultraviolet (similar to 395 nm), the enhanced red emission is tentatively ascribed to the relaxation of parity-forbidden selection rules of Eu3+ ions. White light-emitting diodes are fabricated by using near ultraviolet light-emitting diode chips (similar to 395 nm) and the blends of the commercial blue, green and as-prepared red Li0.98Tb0.02EuMo2O8 phosphor, the resulting white light-emitting diode shows a color-rendering index of 93.5, luminous efficacy of 14 lm/W and chromaticity coordinates of (0.292, 0.329). (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.