String BaMoO4:Ln(3+) (Ln=Eu, Tb, Er, and Gd) nanobeans were prepared by a hydrothermal method. The samples were characterized by transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope, and Raman spectrometer. Under direct excitation in the charge transfer absorption band, concentration quenching phenomenon occurs and decay dynamics were performed to study the photoluminescence of the string BaMoO4:Eu3+ nanobeans. In the emission spectra of BaMoO4:Er3+/Eu3+ under 274nm excitation, the P-2(3/2) -> I-4(11/2),H-2(11/2) -> I-4(15/2), and S-4(3/2) -> I-4(15/2) transitions from Er3+ ions were observed for the first time. In addition, the photoluminescence properties of BaMoO4:Tb3+/Eu3+ and BaMoO4:Gd3+/Eu3+ were also investigated. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.