The vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopic properties of Ba2Gd2Si4O13:Re3+ (Re3+ = Ce3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, Eu3+, Sm3+) are investigated in detail for the first time. The host absorption band is determined to be around 171 nm, and the f-d transition bands as well as the charge transfer bands are assigned and corroborated. Upon 172 nm excitation, Ce3+ activated Ba2Gd2Si4O13 shows blue emission due to 5d-4f transition of Ce3+. Ba2Gd2Si4O13:Tb3+ exhibits green emission attributed to the excitation state levels D-5(3) and D-5(4) to F-7(j) ground state levels. For Dy3+-doped sample, it reveals white light emission combining F-4(9/2) -> H-6(J) (J 15/2, 13/2, 11/2) transitions. Eu3+ and Sm3+ in the host display red light emissions with the dominated emission peaks at 612 and 601 nm, respectively. Among these phosphors, Ba2Gd2Si4O13:Eu3+ can be a potential candidate for 172 nm excited red phosphors considering the suitable location of absorption band, good color purity, and intense luminescence. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.