Novel green-emitting AlN:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors were successfully synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. Single doped AlN:Ce3+ and AlN:Tb3+ phosphors could be effectively excited by ultraviolet lights and showed intense blue and green emissions, respectively. The incorporation of Ce3+ could drastically enhance the luminescence of AIN:Tb3+ powder by energy transfer. The effects of Ce3+ and Tb3+ concentrations on luminance in single and co-doped phosphors have also been studied. Analysis of the emission and excitation spectra, in conjunction with the curves of decay times, suggested that the effective energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ is mainly due to a dipole-dipole interaction in the AIN:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.