Transparent Eu3+ doped and Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped oxyfluoride glass ceramics were prepared and spectroscopic properties were investigated. The XRD and TEM results demonstrated the formation of Ba2GdF7 nanocrystals, and the reduction of the ratio beta between D-5(0) -> F-7(2) and D-5(0) -> F-7(1) transitions of Eu3+ ions evidenced rare-earth ions incorporation into Ba2GdF7 nanocrystals. For Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped glass ceramic, unusual ultraviolet upconversion emissions from P-6(J) -> S-8(7/2) transition of Gd3+ at 308 nm and D-1(2) -> H-3(6), D-1(2) -> F-3(4) and (1)G(4) -> H-3(6) transitions of Tm3+ at 359 nm, 449 nm and 476 nm were observed under 980 nm excitation, respectively. And upconversion mechanism of Tm3+-Yb-3-Gd3++ system was analyzed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.