Y3Al5O12 nanoparticles doped with Ce3+ ions (YAG:Ce) were prepared by solvothermal synthesis. For short reaction times, very small YAG: Ce grains are formed and aggregate together with a preferred orientation, as proved by X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy. For longer reaction times, individual well crystallized and faceted YAG: Ce nanoparticles are observed. The growth of the nanoparticles under solvothermal conditions seems to be driven by self-oriented aggregation and coalescence leading to single-crystals at the nano-scale. For larger YAG: Ce nanoparticles (18 +/- 5 nm), the internal luminescence quantum yield is measured to be 27 +/- 5% and seems only limited by surface defects or species, regarding the high crystalline quality of the nanocrystals. Such nanocrystals are deposited onto glass substrates by spray-deposition, a simple deposition technique which allows the formation of binder-free films. Micron-thick translucent films, exclusively composed of stacked YAG: Ce nanoparticles, are formed, while the particle morphology and optical properties are notmodified by the deposition process. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.