Luminescence properties of Yb3+/Ho3+ co-doped Sr3YAl2O7.5 and Sr3LuAl2O7.5 powders

•Yb3+/Ho3+ co-doped Sr3YAl2O7.5 and Sr3LuAl2O7.5 powders have been prepared.•Three up-converted emission bands of Ho3+ are observed.•The difference of the emission bands in different host materials has been discussed.•The local environment of the host results in the variation of the luminescence. Yb3+/Ho3+ co-doped Sr3RAl2O7.5 (R=Y, Lu) powders have been prepared by developing a nitric-decomposition method for the first time. Under 980nm excitation, three up-converted emission bands of Ho3+ performed by two-photon processes are observed in both Yb3+/Ho3+ co-doped Sr3YAl2O7.5 and Sr3LuAl2O7.5 samples. The difference of the emission bands in different host materials has been discussed. It is believed that the local environment and the phonon energies of the host results in the variation of the luminescence properties of Ho3+ in the two host materials.