(Gd, Y)AlO3: Tb3+ phosphors were prepared by the citrate-gel method at relatively low temperature and their photoluminescence properties were investigated under vaccum ultraviolet excitation. The bands (125 - 175 nm) are assigned to the host absorption, and the f-d transitions of Tb3+ are in the region of 180 - 300 nm. With the increasing of Y3+ content in (Gd, Y)AlO3: Tb3+, the host absorption bands shift to a higher energy region and the luminescent intensity is enhanced by Y3+ incorporation into the lattice, because the emission lines of Xe in the discharge at 147 nm lie in the excitation spectrum. This makes the phosphor suitable for plasma display panel applications. (c) 2006 The Electrochemical Society.