Hexagonal LaPO4 nH(2)O Eu3+ nano-wires and dual-phase LaPO4 Eu3+ nano-wires with hexagonal and monoclinic structures were synthesized by hydrothermal reaction at 150 and 220 C respectively The effects of high temperature treatment on the structure morphology and photoluminescence of the specimens were also investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD) Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fluorescence spectrophotometer (FL) The results indicated the phase transformation for LaPO4 Eu3+ from the hexagonal structure to the monoclinic structure occurred after the specimens were calcined at 900 C for 12 h in the air The wire-like structures of LaPO4 Eu3+ were destroyed and transformed into particle-like structures at high temperature The mechanism of transformation from nano-wires to particles was introduced briefly The photoluminescence properties of as-prepared and annealed specimens were also discussed in detail (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B V