Europium-ion doped BaMgAl10O17 phosphors were prepared via both a sol-gel route and the conventional solid-state route. The effects of various preparation conditions on the optical properties of BaMgAl10O17 based phosphors were investigated. The position of charge transfer band and emission characteristics of europium ions in BaO.OEuO.jMgAl10017 are observed to be different between those prepared by the sol-gel route and those derived from the solid-state route. The sites occupied by europium ions in BaMgAl10O17 are found to depend upon the method of synthesis. The ratios of the intensity of 610 nm emission (D-5(0) --> F-7(2)) to that of 590 nm emission (D-5(0) --> F-7(1)) suggest that Eu3+ ions are located in a more asymmetric environment for the sol-gel-derived phosphors as compared to that in phosphors prepared via the solid-state route. VUV-excited emission characteristics indicate that the prepared phosphors generate intense emission at 458 nm under excitation at 147 nm. In addition, the luminescence intensity of the sol-gel-derived phosphors is greater than that of the solid-state-route-derived phosphors. The sol-gel method employing polymerizing agents is demonstrated to be suitable for the synthesis of phosphors used in plasma display panels. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.