In this study, we attempted to reduce firing voltage of ac-PDPs by alloying MgO electron emission material with ZnO. This approach was aimed to reduce band gap energy of MgO by the alloying and thereby promote the Auger neutralization reaction of Xe(+) ions on MgO surface. Pellets were prepared by sintering MgO and ZnO powder mixture at 1300 degrees C for 8 h under nitrogen atmosphere. Test panels with such alloyed MgO films showed significantly reduced firing voltages, especially when the discharge gas is of high Xe content These results represent a new way of approaching in the development of electron emission materials for ac-PDPs. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.