A new approach has been developed for the preparation of Y(OH)(3):Eu and Y2O3:Eu nanosheets using the sol-gel method and hydrothermal reactions. XRD patterns showed that the product was purely hexagonal-phase Y(OH)(3). TEM images revealed that the nanosheets are square shaped (1 x 1 mu m(2)) with a thickness of several tens of nanometers. In addition, it was found that cubic-phase Y2O3 nanosheets can be obtained by calcination of Y(OH)(3) at 900 angstrom C for 1 h. More importantly, the thus-prepared Y(OH)(3):Eu and Y2O3:Eu nanosheet phosphors were found to exhibit a relatively high photoluminescence (PL) intensity.