Inverse opal photonic crystals of Tb3+ doped LaPO4 (LaPO4: Tb) were prepared by the self-assembly technique in combination with a sol-gel method. Photoluminescence (PL) of the inverse opals was investigated. The effect of the photonic stop-band on the spontaneous emission of the D-5(4)-> F-7(n) transitions of Tb3+ has been observed in the inverse opals of the Tb3+ doped LaPO4. Significant suppression of the emission was detected if the photonic band gap overlaps with the Tb3+ ions emission band, while enhancement of the emission occurs if the emission band appears at the edge of the band gap. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.