The site-selective excitation and the dynamical electron-lattice interaction on the luminescence of YBO3: Sb3+

► The site-selective excitation of YBO3: Sb3+ was demonstrated. ► The temperature-dependent luminescence of YBO3: Sb3+ was observed. ► Strong electron-lattice interaction between the Sb3+ and YBO3 host was revealed. ► Superposition of the Jahn-Teller effect and site-selective excitation was discriminated. ► Optical parameters were calculated by using a molecular orbital approximation.