Ce3+ doped sodium lutetium pyrosilicates phosphors Na(3)Lu(1-x)CexSi(2)O(7) were prepared through a high-temperature solid-state reaction technique. The studies on VUV-vis luminescent properties and fluorescent decays indicate that Ce3+ ions occupy two distinct Lu3+ sites in the host lattice. The excitation and emission bands of Ce3+ in these two lattice sites are assigned in terms of crystal structure and an improved ligand polarization model. The emission color and chromaticity coordinates of phosphors can be tuned by altering temperature due to the temperature-dependent characteristics of two luminescence centers, which suggest the potential application of the phosphors in temperature sensors. (C) 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.027203jes] All rights reserved.