Nano-scaled red-emitting YVO4:0.05Eu(3+) phosphors were synthesized by ethylene glycol-assisted hydrothermal method followed by annealing process. The effects of annealing process on the crystalline phase, particle morphology and emission properties were investigated. The prepared YVO4 nano phosphors showed strong red luminescence, based on the D-5(0)-F-7(2) transition of Eu3+ ion, under 147 nm excitation. From the Eu3+-doped YVO4 nanophosphors, the transparent layers were formed onto a glass substrate by a screen printing technique. All the phosphor layers formed with multiple coating exhibited an outstanding visible transparency. The mini-sized transparent plasma-discharge panels were fabricated using the nanophosphor layers deposited by screen printing and their luminance characteristics investigated. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.