Some embodiments disclosed herein include a ceramic body including a first region and a second region. The first region may include a host material and first concentration of a dopant that is effective to produce luminescence. The second region may include the host material and second concentration of the dopant. In some embodiments, the first region has an average grain size that is larger than an average grain of the second region. The ceramic body may, in some embodiments, exhibit superior internal quantum efficiency (IQE). Some embodiments disclosed herein include methods for the making and using the ceramic bodies disclosed herein. Also, some embodiments disclosed herein lighting apparatuses including the ceramic bodies disclosed herein.