Nano-scaled SnO2 particles doped with Dy3+ have been synthesized by a simple sol-gel method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron micrograph, UV-visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The as-prepared SnO2 nanoparticles appear to be single tetragonal crystalline phase and the diameter is about 2.6 nm. The hypersensitive transition (F-4(9/2) --> H-6(13/2) of Dy3+) is dominated in the emission spectra resulting from the distorted crystal lattice at which Dy3+ ions locate. And the dependence of the luminescence intensity on Dy3+ concentration is also discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.