A novel sol-gel (SG) method has been proposed to synthesize the YAG:Ce phosphor. Raw powders of Y2O3, Al(NO3)(3)center dot 9H(2)O and Ce(NO3)(3)center dot 6H(2)O were mixed and dissolved in water. No organic additives have been added. The gel with an inorganic Al/Y oxide framework was formed by heating the solution with continuous stirring, and then the precursors were fired at 1550 degrees C under the reductive atmosphere. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements indicated that the pure and high performance YAG phosphors were obtained. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation showed that the phosphor particles are well dispersed and nearly spherical with a homogeneous particle size. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurement revealed that the proposed method could prompt the Ce3+ ions to occupy the normal Y sites, leading to increased photoluminescence. (C) 2012 The Electrochemical Society.