Er3+-doped BaMoO4 (BaMoO4:Er3+) and Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped BaMoO4 (BaMoO4:Er3+/Yb3+) particles were successfully synthesized by a cyclic microwave-assisted metathetic (MAM) method, and show fine and homogeneous morphology with particle sizes of 0.5-1 mu m. At 980-nm excitation, BaMoO4:Er3+ and BaMoO4:Er3+/Yb3+ particles exhibited a strong 525-nm emission band and a weak 550-nm emission band in the green region. The Raman spectrum of BaMoO4:Er3+/Yb3+ particles indicated the appearance of additional peaks at higher frequencies (390 and 505 cm(-1)) and at lower frequencies (218 and 255 cm(-1)) (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.