The red long-lasting phosphor Y

2

O

2

S:Eu

3+

Mg

2+

Ti

4+

was synthesized by sol-gel method using EDTA as complexing agent. XRD

SEM and spectra fluorophotometer technique were used to investigate the performance of samples synthesized at different temperatures. When the sulfuretted temperature is below 1 000℃

the product is a mixture of Y

2

O

3

and Y

2

O

2

S. The pure phase of Y

2

O

2

S is obtained when the temperature is 1 050~1 100℃.When the temperature rises to 1 150℃

the phase of Y

2

O

3

appears again. When the temperature is 950~1 100℃

the size of particle is about 50~300 nm. From the spetrum

the main emission peak lies at 626 nm under the 330 nm excitation

which is ascribed to the transition of Eu

3+

from

5

D

0

to

7

F

2

. The optimal afterglow time of the sample is 95 min (1 mcd/m

2

) when the sulfurization temperature was 1 100℃. Compared with sol-gel method using acetyl acetone as complexing agent

the afterglow properties of samples synthesized by sol-gel method using EDTA as complexing agent have been greatly improved.