Dy3+ doped barium aluminate (BaAl2O4:Dy3+) phosphors were prepared via the sol-gel combustion route at the ignition temperature of 600 degrees C. The phosphors were characterized with X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Regardless of the absence of Eu2+ luminescent centers, broadband blue-green afterglow with its peak at about 490 nm was recorded in the BaAl2O4:Dy3+ phosphors. The decay profile of the blue-green afterglow can be best fitted into a two-component exponential function with the two lifetime decay constants to be 8.81 and 45.25 s, respectively. The observation of blue-green afterglow from BaAl2O4:Dy3+ in the absence of Eu2+ provides unique opportunity in unveiling the afterglow mechanisms of rare-earth doped alkaline-metal aluminates. Possible mechanisms on the blue-green afterglow in BaAl2O4:Dy3+ phosphors are discussed in terms of the Dy3+ ions introduced trap centers as well as luminescent centers in the crystal lattice. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.