Subglobose YBO 3 :Ln 3? (Eu, Tb) phosphors have been successfully synthesized via a simple solutionbased hydrothermal method using Y 2 (CO 3 ) 3 (H 2 O) 2 colloid spheres as the precursor. The crystal structure, morphology, chemical composition and photoluminescence property of the phosphors were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The as-prepared phosphors present subglobose morphology and have a diameter of about 1 lm. XRD and FTIR results confirm that the vaterite-type YBO 3 can be synthesized by this method. The YBO 3 :Eu 3? exhibited strong orange emission at 591 nm and red emission at 610 nm, which were respectively ascribed to the ( 5 D 0 -7 F 1 ) and ( 5 D 0 -7 F 2 ) transitions of Eu 3? . The YBO 3 :Tb 3? showed dominant green emission at 542 nm due to the 5 D 4 -7 F 5 transition of Tb 3? .