Blue-emitting phosphors for use with plasma display panels (PDP) or other vacuum ultraviolet-excited (VUV) devices are provided. These blue-emitting phosphors and mixtures thereof include at least a europium-activated calcium-substituted barium hexa-aluminate (CBAL) phosphor. Preferably, the CBAL phosphor has a composition which may be represented by the formula: Ba.sub.1.29-x-yCa.sub.xEu.sub.yAl.sub.12O.sub.19.29, wherein 0