Using urea, boric acid and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as auxiliary reagents, the novel red emitting phosphors (Sr0.85Zn0.15)(3)(PO4)(2): Eu3+ have been successfully synthesized by a modified solid-state reaction. The material has potential application as a fluorescent material for ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs). The dependence of the properties of (Sr0.5Zn0.15)(3)(PO4)(2):Eu3+ phosphors upon urea, boric acid and the PEG concentration and the quadric sintered temperature were investigated. The crystallization and particle sizes of (Sr0.85Zn0.15)(3)(PO4)(2):Eu3+ have been investigated by using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Luminescent measurements showed that the phosphors can be efficiently excited by ultraviolet (UV) to visible region. emitting a red light with a peak wavelength of 616 nm. The results show that the boric acid, urea and the PEG were effective in improving the fluorescent intensity of (Sr0.85Zn0.15)(3)(PO4)(2):Eu3+ and the optimum molar ratio was 0.1, 8 and 0.021, respectively. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.