Novel UV and blue phosphors, YPO4: Zr and YPO4: Zr, Mn, respectively, are synthesized and investigated. YPO4: Zr shows the emission about 290 nm assigned to the charge transfer transition of O-Zr. The excitation spectrum of the emission has main band peaked at 175 nm. The codoped phosphor YPO4: Zr, Mn shows the emission peaked at 477 nm assigned to the d-d transition of Mn2+ within 3d(5) configuration. The excitation bands of the blue emission are around 152 and 193 nm. YPO4: Mn does not show any emission and the 290 nm emission observed for YPO4: Zr is diminished for YPO4: Zr, Mn. It is suggested that Zr plays an important role in the excitation of the Mn blue emission of YPO4: Zr, Mn. The emission wavelength of YPO4: Zr, Mn is remarkably short compared with the usual Mn2+ activated phosphors. © 2005 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.