In order to search new phosphors for plasma display panel(PDP), phosphate hosts which has a host excitation band at around 150nm were prepared and their luminescent properties were investigated. In the preparation of $YPO_4: Eu; and; (Y,Gd)PO_4: Eu$ phosphors, the effect of oxide and oxalate starting materials on prepared phosphors were compared in terms of relative emission intensities and particle characteristics. The results showed that oxalate starting materials gave better performance in emission intensities and smaller size and more round shape phosphors which would be more applicable for high resolution display. Additionally, Gd, V, Nb and Ta ions were doped to $YPO_4:Eu$ and the luminescent properties of the resulant solid solutions were investigated to find efficient sensitizer. Among these ions, Gd, V and Nb ions increased the emission intensities of parent phosphor to around 10%. While Nb ion gave the best result in emission intensities, CIE color coordinate were improved by doping V ion into $YPO_4:Eu$ phosphor to give x=0.6523, y=0.3406 compared to commercial sample.