(Y0.95La0.05)2O3:Ce3+ nano-powder was synthesized by co-precipitation method and sintered at 800 and 900 ℃.All the samples were cubic phase characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis.The samples sintered at the lower temperature exhibited luminescence.According to the distinguishable structure of Ce 3d peaks and the shift of O 1s lines in the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS),luminescence was further confirmed to originate from Ce3+ ions.Effects of introducing La3+ into Y2O3 were discussed and it showed that under 800 ℃ calcining,the existing of La3+ made it more easy for Ce3+ to dope into the host lattice.