The photoluminescence (PL) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation properties are studied for the BaZr(BO3)(2):Eu3+ phosphor with incorporating the Al3+, La3+, or Y3+ ion into the lattice. The excitation spectrum shows an absorption band in the VUV region with the band-edge at 200 nm and a very weak charge transfer band of Eu3+ at about 226 nm. The luminescence spectrum shows a strong emission at 615 nm (D-5(0) --> F-7(2) transition) and weak emission at 594 nm (D-5(0) --> F-7(1) transition) in BaZr(BO3)(2):Eu3+, with a good red color purity. The PL intensity is increased by incorporating Al3+ into the BaZr(BO3)(2) lattice. The PL intensity has also increased by incorporating La3+, into the lattice, however, the red color purity has deteriorated because of the increased centrosymmetric nature of the site. With the incorporation of Y3+ into the BaZr(BO3)(2) lattice, the PL characteristics of the Eu3+ activator resembles that in the YBO3 lattices. The intensity of the red PL for the Eu3+ activator is the highest with good color purity for BaZr(BO3)(2):Eu3+ incorporated with both Al3+ (10%) and La3+ (0.5%). (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.