Photoluminescence properties of pristine and Eu2+-doped zirconates, viz. BaZr(PO4)(2), BaZr4(PO4)(6), Ba2Zr2Si3O12, and Ca3ZrSi2O9, excited by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light using synchrotron radiation were studied. The undoped zirconates show self-activated emission in the 300-340 nm region under VUV excitation, which is ascribed to the Zr4+-O2- charge transfer luminescence. Upon doping Eu2+ into these compounds, no Eu2+ emission was observed in the rest of compounds, except for a weak Eu2+ emission observed in Ba2Zr2Si3O12:Eu2+. The quenching of Eu2+ luminescence is rationalized as the presence of Zr4+-Eu2+ metal-metal charge transfer. (C) 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3605475] All rights reserved.