Y2O3:Eu luminescent nanoparticles were prepared by solvothermal route under supercritical conditions (350-400 degrees C) using aqueous yttrium chloride/europium chloride solution, methanol, NaOH aqueous solution, urea, I-octadecene and oleic acid followed by calcination at 800 and 1000 degrees C. The particles exhibited sphere and rod-shaped morphology with diameter size ranging 20-40 nm. The samples before calcinations showed broad X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks corresponding to YOCl, Y-2(CO3)(3) center dot 2H(2)O and Y2O3 and were converted to single-phase Y2O3 after calcinations above 800 degrees C. The Y2O3:Eu nanoparticles with sphere morphology exhibited stronger luminescence intensity than rod-shaped particles. The result was compared with reference sample prepared via conventional co-precipitation-calcination method. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.