Samples of GdBO 3 doped with Ce 3+ embedded in amorphous silica matrix were obtained by sol gel process and heat-treat at 1000°C for 2h in argon atmosphere. After elaboration, the samples were irradiated with γ-rays using cobalt ( 60 Co) source in the dose range from 1 to 5kGy. The irradiation effect of γ-rays on structural and optical properties of the synthesized samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and photoluminescence spectroscopy. XRD and TEM-EDS results reveal that γ-ray irradiation reduces the crystallite size from 55nm to 30nm. It is found from FTIR study that the absorption bands intensity assigned to structural groups containing BO 4 and BO 3 units as well as the banding of Si–O–Si bond increases with γ-ray dose up to 4kGy. While photoluminescence measurements show that the emission bands attributed to the 5d→4F transition of Ce +3 ion intensity decreases, it is still significant even after irradiation to a dose of 5kGy. From this results it is concluded that the γ-ray irradiation up to a dose of 5kGy improve the structural and morphological quality of the synthesized GdBO 3 /silica: Ce 3+ without altering significantly its luminescence properties.