A novel red luminescent material Li0.9Y0.9Zr0.1O2 doped with trivalent europium ions and dysprosium ions was synthesized by solution-combustion method. X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy and optical spectroscopy were used to valuate the crystallinity, the morphological characterization and the optical properties of the products. The results showed that combustion at 800 degrees C was enough to obtain highly crystalline and phase-pure samples. Photoluminescence spectra of Li0.9Y(0.9-x-y)Zr0.1O2:Eu-x(3+),Dy-y(3+) samples indicated the dominant red emissions (613 nm) at a single-wavelength ultraviolet excitation (395 nm) due to D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition. The relation between the luminescence intensity and dopant concentration was also discussed. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.