White light emission and energy transfer processes in LaInO3 doped with Bi3+, Tb3+ and Eu3

•A novel white light emission of LaInO3 doped with Bi3+, Tb3+ and Eu3+ has successfully been synthesized for the first time.•The Inokuti–Hirayama model is adopted to explore the energy transfer mechanisms Bi3+ → Tb3+ and Tb3+ → Eu3+ ions.•The energy transfer efficiencies are improved via shortening the intercationic distances between dopant ions. [Display omitted] A series of LaInO3 bulk materials doped with Bi3+, Tb3+ and Eu3+ ions have been synthesized via a flux solid-state reaction technique, characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and investigated by luminescence spectroscopy. The compounds exhibit the pure crystal phase of LaInO3 (JCPDS No. 08-0148), and the structure is not affected by the presence of the dopants. The Bi3+ → Tb3+ and Tb3+ → Eu3+ energy transfer phenomena have been studied by means of luminescence spectroscopy and decay kinetics of Bi3+ excited state and of the 5D4 excited state of Tb3+. White light emission is attained via altering the concentration of dopant, and the obtained color coordinate (0.3248, 0.3030) is close to standard white light (0.313, 0.329). The energy transfer process is crucial, in order to tune the color of the emitted light.