The europium-doped LaF3 nanoparticles were prepared by refluxing method in glycerol/water mixture and characterized with X-ray diffraction（XRD）, field emission scanning electron microscopy（FE-SEM）, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum, and photoluminescence spectra.The results of XRD indicated that the obtained LaF3：Eu^3＋ nanoparticles were well crystallized with a hexagonal structure.The FE-SEM image illustrated that the LaF3：Eu^3＋ nanoparticles were spherical with an average size around 30 nm.Under irradiation of UV light, the emission spectrum of LaF3：Eu^3＋ nanoparticles exhibited the characteristic line emissions arising from the 5D0→7FJ（J=1, 2, 3, 4） transitions of the Eu3＋ ions, with the dominating emission centered at 590 nm.In addition, the emissions from the 5D1 level could be clearly observed due to the low phonon energies（-350 cm^-1） of LaF3 matrix.The optimum doping concentration for LaF3：Eu3＋ nanoparticles was determined to be 20mol.%.
