Combustion synthesis and photoluminescence properties of CaZrO3: Eu3+ with highly enhanced brightness by Li+ doping

► CaZrO3:Eu3+,Li+ has been prepared by a facile sol-gel-combustion method. ► Stable orange-red emission has been observed from CaZrO3:Eu3+,Li+crystalline phase. ► Li+-doping increased the photoluminescence intensity by about three times. ► The CaZrO3:Eu3+,Li+ phosphor has potential applications in luminescence devices.