This study prepares YPO₄:Ln³⁺(Ln=Eu,Tb) phosphors by hydrothermal metho d combined w ith high temperature sintering.The crystal structure,morphology and luminescent properties of the powders were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM),and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL),respectively.The results show that hexagonal structure YPO₄·0.8H₂O:Eu³⁺ and YPO₄·0.8H₂O:Tb³⁺ precursors with latt ice water could be formed under hydrothermal condition.After sintering at 800℃ for 2h,the tetragonal zircon structure YP O₄:Eu³⁺ and YPO₄:Tb³⁺ phosphors were obtained as the lattice water was released from hexagonal precursors,which are uniformly distributed spherical structure with about 200nm in diameter.The emission spectrum of YPO 4:Eu³⁺ exhibits several sharp peaks corresponding to the transitions ⁵D₀→⁷F J(J=1－4) of Eu³⁺ under 396nm excitation,among which the most intense luminescence intensity is at 596nm,corresponding to ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ transition of Eu³⁺.The optimum doping mole concentration of Eu³⁺ is 11%.Furthermore,under excitat ion wavelength of 372nm, YPO₄:Tb³⁺ spherical phosphors could generate a strong green emission at 548nm of ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ transition,showing the optimum Tb³⁺ doping mole concentration of 7%.