A flexible Eu:Y2O3-polyvinyl alcohol photoluminescent film for sensitive and rapid detection of arsenic ions

•This report features facile combustion with a mixing approach for the synthesis of Eu:Y2O3 nanophosphor and Eu:Y2O3-PVA film (EYF).•EYF is highly selective for the arsenic ion (As3+) over the various cations and anions present in real water samples.•EYF display a limit of detection (LOD) as 57 ng/L (=0.057 ppb) for 0–100 µg/L linear range.•Fluorescent change of the sensor could be visually observed with naked eyes under UV–Vis light.•This sensing probe provides sensitive, selective and a label-free fluorescence-based detection of arsenic ions in real water samples.