Ba1-xSryLa2-xZnO5:xEu (x = 0-1, y = 0-0.7) was prepared by the vibrating milled solid-state reaction, and the photoluminescence properties were investigated. The results show that the optimum emission intensity is at y = 0.5 for serial BaLa2-xZnO5:xEu phosphors under near-UV light excitation (394 run) and the CIE chromaticity coordinate is located at (0.624, 0.376). Furthermore, Sr2+ doping for serial Ba1-ySryLa1.5Eu0.5ZnO5 (y = 0-0.7) phosphors were also investigated; photoluminescence properties indicated that increasing Sr2+ content enhances not only the emission intensity ratio of D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition (red emission) to D-5(0) -> F-7(1) transition (orange emission) but also the emission intensity of (5)D0 -> F-7(2) transition. The color purity enhancement results from the relatively lower symmetry environment around Eu3+ ions. The Ba0.3Sr0.7La1.5Eu0.5ZnO5 phosphors have optimal integrated emission intensity, which is 62% larger than the integrated emission intensity of BaLa1.5Eu0.5ZnO5 phosphors, and the CIE chromaticity coordinate (v, y) of Ba0.3Sr0.7La1.5Eu0.5ZnO5 phosphor is (0.633, 0.367) under near-UV light excitation. (C) 2009 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3190531] All rights reserved.