Crystals of LiKGdF 5∶Er 3+, Tb 3+ grown by the hydrothermal synthesis technique with concentrations of 2% and 0.4% were analysed. By using site selective excitation measured at low temperature, luminescence and excitation spectra from Er 3+ and Tb 3+ ions embedded in LiKGdF 5 were clearly separated. The lifetimes of the emitting levels 4S 3/2 of Er 3+ and 5D 4 of Tb 3+ were also determined. Following the site selective spectroscopy study, the dominant energy transfer process from Tb 3+ to Er 3+ in the crystal was then investigated via transient experiments. Crystals of LiKGdF 5: Er 3+, Tb 3+ grown by the hydrothermal synthesis technique with concentrations of 2% and 0.4% were analyzed. By using site selective excitation measured at low temperature, luminescence and excitation spectra from Er 3+ and Tb 3 The lifetimes of the emitting levels 4S 3/2 of Er 3+ and 5D 4 of Tb 3+ were also determined. Following the site selective spectroscopy study, the dominant energy transfer process from Tb 3 + to Er 3+ in the crystal was then investigated via transient experiments.