Europium-activated phosphors containing oxides of rare-earth and group-IIIB metals and method of making the same

A phosphor blend comprising a trivalent europium-activated oxide phosphor comprising a compound having a formula of (Gd1-x-yYxLa)(Al1-z-vGazInv)O3:

• Eu3+;
• wherein 0≦x, y≦1;
• 0≦x+y≦1;
• each of z and v is less than 1, with the proviso that 0<v<1 when 0≦z<1, and 0<z<1 when 0≦v<1;
• and at least two of 1−z−v, z, and v are greater than zero;
• said phosphor blend absorbing EM radiation in a wavelength range from about 250 nm to about 400 nm.

A light source comprising:

• (a) a source of gas discharge;
• and
• (b) a phosphor blend comprising a trivalent europium-activated oxide phosphor comprising a compound having a formula of (Gd1-x-yYxLay)(Al1-z-vGazInv)O3:
• Eu3+;
• wherein 0≦x, y≦1;
• 0≦x+y≦1;
• each of z and v is less than 1, with the proviso that 0<v<1 when 0≦z<1, and 0<z<1 when 0≦v<1;
• and at least two of 1−z−v, z, and v are greater than zero;
• said phosphor blend absorbing EM radiation from said gas discharge in a wavelength range from about 250 nm to about 400 nm and emitting light in a visible range.