The photo- and cathodoluminescence properties of epitaxial lithium-doped zinc gallate thin-film phosphors grown on (100) MgO single crystal substrates using pulsed laser ablation were investigated. The addition of lithium to both undoped and Mn-doped ZnGa[sub 2]O[sub 4] films significantly enhanced the photo- and low-voltage cathodoluminescent intensity. Cathodoluminescent efficiencies for as-deposited undoped and Mn-doped lithium zinc gallate films as high as 0.21 1m/W and 0.29 1m/W, respectively, were achieved for 1 kV and 2.26 µA/cm[sup 2]. Based on these results, lithium-doped zinc gallate thin-film phosphors appear to be attractive for applications in low-voltage field emission display devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]