Samarium ions doped strontium molybdate (SrMoO4:Sm3+) nanofibers (NFs) were fabricated by a simple electrospinning process. The obtained SrMoO4:Sm3+ NFs are composed of scheelite-type tetragonal SrMoO4 phase, and the NFs have an average diameter of ca. 90 nm. Under 275 nm ultraviolet (UV) excitation, the NFs show an orange-red fluorescent property symbolized by a characteristic emission (606 nm) resulting from the (4)G(5/2) -> H-6(7/2) energy level transition of Sm3+. And the photoluminescence (PL) emissi on intensity of the SrMoO4:Sm3+ NFs is superior to that of the nanoparticles (NPs) counterpart under the same doping concentrations. The effect of Sm3+ concentrations on the (4)G(5/2) -> H-6(7/2) emission intensity was also investigated. The result reveals that the concentration quenching will occur when the Sm3+ content exceeds 2 at.%. In other words, the SrMoO4:Sm3+ NFs have an optimal luminescent performance under such a doping concentration. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.