Synthesis and characterization of lithium aluminate red phosphors

► γ-LiAlO2 and LiAl5O8 powders were synthesized by the sol-gel method. ► The samples exhibited the PL emission peak around 670 nm assigned to the d-d transition of Fe3+. ► As a host material for the PL red emission, LiAl5O8 was found to be much better than γ-LiAlO2. ► The highest emission intensity was achieved for the in-situ formed LiAl5O8 from γ-LiAlO2. ► The PL emission properties could be governed by the crystallite size and crystallinity of LiAl5O8.