<p>A series of Ce³⁺/Mn²⁺ co-doped NaBaBO₃ phosphors with emission-tunable properties for white LEDs were synthesized via conventional high-temperature solid-state reaction. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), photoluminescence (PL), and decay curve measurements. The phosphor exhibits dual emissions: a blue band at 425&#xa0;nm (Ce³⁺) and a red band at 645&#xa0;nm (Mn²⁺). The energy transfer (ET) efficiency from Ce³⁺ to Mn²⁺ was calculated as ~ 24.12%, with a critical distance (R_{<i>Ce−Mn</i>}) of ~ 19.78Å, confirming efficient dipole-dipole interaction. The Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage (CIE) coordinates tunable from (0.161, 0.071) (blue) to (0.339, 0.178) (bluish-red) under near-ultraviolet (NUV) excitation highlight its potential for NUV-excited white LED applications.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>