This paper reports the emission spectra at room temperature and presents an optimum concentration for each of the dopants in GdPO4:Eu3+, LaPO4:Tb3+ and LaPO4:Ce3+ powder phosphors for the observation of bright reddish-orange, green and UV emission, respectively. FT-IR and a thermal analysis of these phosphor materials have been carried out. Scanning electron microscopic investigations were also conducted to understand surface morphological features (shape) and the grain size in the powder phosphor systems. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.