Eu2+-doped SiAlON phosphors with the composition of EuxSi6-zAlzOzN8-z(0.5 <= z <= 3) at a fixed x = 0.01 were synthesized by the gas pressure sintering method. Dependence of luminescence properties on the phase compositions in beta-SiAlON:Eu2+ phosphors has been examined via fluorescence microscope and scanning electron microscope equipped with a cathodoluminescence spectrometer and an energy dispersive spectrometer. Bimodal emission (green and violet) from beta-SiAlON phase is observed in the samples with z >= 2, indicating co-existence of two different kinds of coordination for Eu2+ ions in the host lattice. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.