Er3+ doped SrMoO4 (SrMoO4:Er3+) and Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped SrMoO4 (SrMoO4:Er3+/Yb3+) particles were successfully synthesized by a cyclic microwave-assisted metathetic (MAM) route followed by heat treatment. The microstructures exhibited well-defined and homogeneous morphology with particles sizes of 100-500 nm. With excitation at 980 nm, SrMoO4:Er3+ and SrMoO4:Er3+/Yb3+ particles exhibited a strong 525-nm emission band and a weak 550-nm emission band in the green region and a weak 655-nm emission band in the red region. The Raman spectra of SrMoO4:Er3+ and SrMoO4:Er3+/Yb3+ particles indicated the detection of additional strong peaks at both higher frequencies (564, 524, 456, and 403 cm(-1)) and lower frequencies (294, 251, and 220 cm(-1)). (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.