Nanocrystalline Y2O3:Eu phosphors have been successfully synthesized by a novel combustion method using sucrose as achelating agent and fuel. The sucrose hydrolysation and complexing mechanisms are discussed.X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the cubic phase can be formed at a low temperature of400 °C, andtransmission electron microscopy observations revealed that the phosphor particles were 30–50 nm annealedat 1000 °C. Thepost-treated Y2O3:Eu nanophosphors yield intense red emission at 610 nm, corresponding to the5D0–7F2 transitions. The luminescence properties ofthe Y2O3:Eu particles were strongly affected by the annealing temperatures and the sucrose to metal ionratios. This work demonstrates that the sucrose combustion process can be aquasi-universal medium for the preparation of nanoscale phosphors.