A series of novel Sm3+-doped LiY(MoO4)2 red phosphors under the UV excitation were synthesized by solid state reaction at 800 ℃ for 7 h. The data measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the samples were all pure phases of LiY(MoO4)2. Their excitation spectra had a broad band ranging from 250 to 350 nm and several sharp peaks. The centers of the peaks were located at about 365 nm (6H5/2→4D3/2), 378 nm (6H5/2→rp7/2), 406 nm (6H5/2→4FT/2), 420 nm (6H5/2→6ps/2), 442 nm (6H5/2→4Gg/2), 471 nm (6H5/2→4I13/2) and 482 nm (6H5/2→419/2), respectively. The strongest emission was excited by 406 nm, and the main emissions were located at 568 nm (4G5/2→6Hs/2), 610 nm (4Gs/2→rH7/2), 649 nm (4G5/2→6H9/2) and 710 nm (4Gs/2→6HII/2). Photoluminescence prop- erties were determined for various concentrations of Sm3+-doped LiY(MoO4)2 host, and the luminescence intensity had the best value when x=0.02 in LiYix(MoO4)2:xSm3+.