LaF3 pure host, LaF3:Ce, LaF3:Tb as well as LaF3:Ce, Tb phosphors were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction measurements were in good agreement with the standard data of LaF3 from JCPDS card No. 32-0483 and indicated that the material was nanocrystalline with an average particle size of about 36 nm. Photoluminescence spectra of co-doped samples revealed that the Ce3+ emission was quenched while Tb3+ emission was enhanced, implying that energy was transferred from Ce3+ (the donor) to Tb3+ (the acceptor) in this system. The luminescence intensities and lifetimes of the donor for different concentrations of the acceptor were fitted to theoretical models in order to investigate the energy transfer mechanism. The quadrupole-quadrupole and exchange interaction mechanisms gave the best fit between the experimental data and the theoretical curves. The effective average Bohr radius from the fit to the exchange model is 0.095 nm. Since this is close to the ionic radii of the Ce3+ and Tb3+ ions, it suggests that the exchange interaction mechanism contributes to the energy transfer. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.