Low temperature solution combustion method using urea as fuel was employed for the synthesis of alpha-Al2O3:Eu3+ nanophosphor. The synthesized nanophosphor was well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and diffused reflectance spectroscopy. XRD results reveal that Eu3+ doped sample corresponds to the alpha phase of Al2O3. TEM analysis reveals particle size distribution in the range of 7-33 nm. XPS results reveal that no impurity elements was present in the nanophosphor and chemical state of the Eu was "+3'' in nanophosphor, which favors the substitution of Eu ion in the Al2O3 host matrix. A bandgap of 5.97 eV is calculated using diffused reflectance spectrum. PL spectrum showed that under UV excitations (228, 396 nm) alpha-Al2O3:Eu3+ nanophosphor exhibits strong red emission due to characteristic 4f-4f transitions of Eu3+ (D-5(0) -> F-7(j); j = 1,2,3, 4). The strong emission peak at 616 nm under 228 nm excitation may be used for possible practical applications in gamma and X-ray scintillators. (C) 2015 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.