The YF₃:xEu³⁺ and YF₃:0.14Eu³⁺,0.08Gd 3+ phosphors were synthesized by hydrothermal method.The as-prepared products are studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD),scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS),photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and lo ng-lasting phosphorescence. The results by XRD indicate that YF₃:xE u³⁺ and YF₃:0.14Eu³⁺,0.08Gd³⁺ belong to an orthorhombic crystal system.Photoelectron spectroscopy measurement from YF₃:xEu³⁺ and YF₃:0.14Eu³⁺,0.08Gd³⁺ reveals the binding energy of the elements onto the product surfaces.The excitation spectra of YF₃:xEu³⁺ exhibit a broad absorption band in the range of 200－300nm and a series of individual absorptio n peaks of Eu³⁺.The excitation spectrum of YF₃:0.14Eu³⁺,0.08Gd³⁺ exhibits a broad absorption ba nd in the range of 200－300nm and a series of individual absorption peaks of Gd³⁺ and Eu³⁺.The emission spectr a of YF₃:xEu³⁺ show two peakss at 593nm and 613nm respectively at 319nm excitation.The luminous intensity of the sample becom es more intensive along with the increase of the Eu³⁺ doping amount,and it could be the maximum at Eu3+ ion content of 14%.Upon excitation at 319nm,the YF₃:0.14Eu³⁺,0.08Gd³⁺ shows the strong characteristic emission of Eu³⁺,which indicates the efficient energy transfer from Gd³⁺ to Eu³⁺.The energy transfer is confirmed to occur between Gd³⁺ and Eu³⁺ when the decay spectrum of Eu³⁺ is fitted by fitting the decay spectra.From Commiss ion Internationale de L′Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity diagram,it is noted that red light can be achieved in the emission spectra of YF₃:0.14Eu³⁺ phosphor at 374nm excitation,and the CIE color coordinates of (0.3372,0.2394) are c lose to the standard color coordinates．