ZnO-doped Y2O3 ceramic: A prospective Warm White Light Fluorescent Material

•The luminescent ZnO-doped Y2O3 ceramics was prepared by infiltration of Y2O3 with Zn2+ ions and pressureless sintering.•The presence of ZnO grains embedded into the Y2O3 matrix was proved using EBSD technique.•The whole visible spectral range of PL emission was achieved in the ZnO-doped Y2O3 ceramics.•Effect of Zn2+ dopant concentration and sintering temperature on luminescence.•Warm white light emission with maximum centered around 570–590 nm depending on ZnO.