Effect of substrates on the photoemission properties of Li doped Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanocrystalline films

► Al2O3 is found to be a promising substrate for highly luminescent Gd2O3 : Eu3+ nanostructures. ► The intensities of the f-f transitions were parameterized within the frame work of the Judd-Ofelt theory. ► Heterogeneous mechanism is found to play a vital role in the formation of ordered nanostructures.