Structure, microstructure and photoluminescence of nanocrystalline Ti-doped gahnite

► Ti-doped gahnite samples with 0-11.6 at.% Ti were synthesized for the first time. ► The samples had crystallite size of 16.6-20.5 nm and lattice strain of 0.07-0.26%. ► Titanium entered the gahnite structure as Ti4+, substituting for octahedral Al3+. ► Ti-doped gahnite showed the UV absorption and blue emission under UV excitation.