The BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ (BAM) phosphor is being used as a blue component in plasma display panels (PDPs) due to its color purity as well as its high luminescence efficiency. When compared to two other components (green and red), the degradation in brightness of the BAM phosphor is high. To understand the role of morphology in the degradation mechanism, a number of BAM samples with various flux materials, viz., alkali halides along with halides of ammonium and/or aluminum were prepared. In addition to green shift (peak maximum shifts toward green), the degradation in intensity of these phosphor materials was studied by heating samples in moisture and by exposing them to a high energy Xe flash lamp or Kr excimer lamp. By employing a specific type of alumina as a starting chemical and a suitable flux material in the preparation of the BAM phosphor by solid-state reaction, the green shift could be eliminated and the degradation minimized. (c) 2005 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.