YVO4:Eu3+ phosphor was prepared using a domestic microwave oven operated at a frequency of 2.45 GHz and a power of 500 W. The temperature of raw materials, mixtures of Y2O3, V2O5 and Eu2O3, irradiated with the microwave was rose up to about 1113 K in 150 s, followed by a sharp drop in the temperature in spite of irradiating the microwave continuously. From the measurement of a dielectric loss factor of the raw materials at 2.45 GHz, a high absorption of microwave energy by V2O5 was found to provide an increase in temperature of the mixture. On the other hand, a low dielectric loss factor of YVO4 caused the sharp drop in temperature as soon as the reaction of Y2O3 with V2O5 was completed. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.