Uncloped and Eu3+-activated Bi3TiNbO9 (BTNO) nanophosphors have been successfully synthesized by sol-gel combustion method. The effects of thermal annealing on the phase structure and crystallinity, morphology and UV-vis absorption of BTNO particles were investigated. Photoluminescence (PL) properties show that a broad blue emission was detected for BTNO nanoparticles, and the characteristic Eu3+ ion D-5(0) -> F-7(J) (J = 1, 2, 3, 4) transitions were observed for the doped samples. Further investigation illuminates that the Eu3+ ions substituted for Bi3+ ions at A site in the pseudo-perovskite layers. It can be confirmed from high bright fluorescence image and short decay time that the novel orange-red phosphor has the potential applications in luminescence devices. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.