An effective strategy based on the host composition design has been adopted to obtain novel high luminescent efficiency red phosphor Sr7.6Zn1-xSc(PO4)(7):0.04Eu(3+),xLi(+). This research reveals that Li+ ions co-doping can offer charge compensation in host Sr8ZnSc(PO4)(7) with 5% mol Eu3+ doped and produce oxygen vacancies as the sensitizer transferring energy to nearby Eu3+. Meanwhile, Li+ ions can assist raising grain sizes of Sr7.6Zn1-xSc(PO4)(7):0.04Eu(3+),xLi(+) phosphors by lowering their melting temperature, further improve their luminescence koperties. The luminescence intensity of 595 and 618 nm emission bands of the optimal phosphor Sr7.6Zn0.97Sc(PO4)(7):0.04Eu(3+),0.03Li(+) achieved 2.932 and 3.316 times increase compared with the sample without Li+ ions incorporated, and it presented 1.26 times greater intensity than commercially red phosphor DS-200. Meanwhile, it also presented excellent thermal stability. Thus, the novel phosphors Sr7.6Zn1-xSc(PO4)(7):0.04Eu(3+),xLi(+) show the potential application value on WLEDs. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.