Silicate of type Y

2

SiO

5

is well-known host for the activation with trivalent rare earth ion. The luminescence of these phosphors are very efficient both under cathode ray and UV excitation. But

Y

2

SiO

5

: Eu

3+

does not complete that series

it shows a moderate red luminescence.It was found the red emission can be enhanced considerably by the simultaneous introduction of a high concentration of Tb

3+

. The luminescent materials with Eu

3+

and Tb

3+

co-doped were synthesized by sol-gel process

using TEOS and Y

2

O

3

and Eu

2

O

3

.The luminescence of Eu

3+

and Tb

3+

in Y

2

SiO

5

were studied

using Eu

3+

and Tb

3+

codoped samples. Energy transfer studies have been made also in Eu

3+

and Tb

3+

codoped Y

2

SiO

5

system. The results show that Y

2

SiO

5

:Eu

3+

yields a moderate brightness

the emission comes from

5

D

0

with the hypersensitive transition

5

D

0

7

F

2

as the most prominent group at about 611nm. The Tb

3+

emission is mainly from

5

D

4

7

F

J

(

J

=4～6) and a smaller contribution from

5

D

3

7

F

J

(

J

=4～6) transitions in Y

2

SiO

5

. Sensitization of Eu

3+

emission by Tb

3+

is possible in Y

2

SiO

5

hosts. The introduction of a small Tb

3+

concentration results in the simultaneous emission of Tb

3+

and Eu

3+

. The efficiency is enhanced considerably by simultaneous introduction of a high Tb

3+

concentration. Enhancement of the Eu

3+

(

5

D

0

7

F

2

) emission and a decrease of the Tb

3+

emission have been observed as a result of energy transfer from Tb

3+

ion to Eu

3+

ion. In the spectra

the spectral positions of the Tb

3+

emissions and the Eu

3+

excitation bands have good energetic overlap for several spectral regions

the excited levels

5

D

4

of Tb

3+

and

5

D

0

of Eu

3+

are involved. The observed strong enhancement of the Eu

3+

emission for high Tb

3+

content is easily explained by the energy transfer effect.