Trivalent cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Ce3+) nanoparticles were successfully prepared by a facile sol-gel technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy were used to characterize the as-prepared phosphors. Well-crystallized fine nanoparticles were obtained at 1000 degrees C. Single-crystal nanoparticles with irregular shapes were obtained, with crystallite sizes ranging between 20 and 60 nm. PL intensity of the particles increased monotonically with decreasing Ce doping concentration and showed the maximum value at 0.1 at%. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.