Light emitting diode (LED) component comprising a phosphor with improved excitation properties

A light emitting diode (LED) component comprising:

• an LED comprising a dominant wavelength in a range of from about 425 nm to less than 460 nm;
• a phosphor in optical communication with the LED, the phosphor comprising:
• a host lattice comprising yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG);
• and an activator comprising Ce and a substitutional dopant comprising Ga incorporated in the host lattice,
• wherein the phosphor comprises a chemical formula YaCebGdcAldGaeOz, where 0<a<3, 0<b≦0.6, 0≦c≦1, 0<d<5, 0<e≦2.5, and z is nominally 12,
• wherein an emission spectrum of the phosphor comprises a maximum intensity in a wavelength range of from about 540 nm to about 570 nm, and
• wherein an excitation spectrum of the phosphor comprises an intensity at 440 nm equivalent to at least about 85% of a maximum intensity of the excitation spectrum.