Abstract: A zinc aluminate luminescent material is provided having the general molecular formula of Zn1-xAl2O4:A3+x@Al2O3@My, wherein A is selected from the group consisting of Cr, Eu, Tb, and Ce; M is selected from at least one of Ag, Au, Pt, Pd and Cu metal nanoparticles; 0<x?0.1; y is the ratio between the molar mass of M and the sum of the molar mass of Al in Zn1-xAl2O4:A3+x and the molar mass of Al in Al2O3@My, 0<y?1×10?2; @ represents coating; the zinc aluminate luminescent material uses M as a core, Al2O3 as an inner shell, and Zn1-xAl2O4:A3+x as an outer shell. The zinc aluminate luminescent material is a core-shell structure using at least one of Ag, Au, Pt, Pd and Cu metal nanoparticles as a core, Al2O3 as an inner shell, and Zn1-xAl2O4:A3+x as an outer shell. The metallic nanoparticles improve the internal quantum efficiency, thus enabling the zinc aluminate luminescent material to have a relatively high luminous intensity.