[en] It has been discovered that when (Hf,Zr) P₂O₅ is prepared by reacting a mixutre of MO₂, A₂O and P₂O₅. (where M is zirconium, and A is an alkali metal, lithium, sodium or potassium), large single-crystalline cubic particles result, which when separated from an aqueous-soluble alkali metal-containing second phase exhibit improved intensity of ultraviolet emissions upon x-ray excitation. When used in x-ray intensifying screens with conventional silver halide emulsion x-ray film, such improved lumiescent material The invention includes material of the composition (Hfsub(1-x)Zrsub(x)) P₂O₇, where range from 0 to 1, having strong emission peaking at about 340 nm with controlled persistence, and also includes a method for producing such luminescent materials, and x-ray intensifying screens incorporating such materials having values of x within the range of about 0.005 to 0.5. (LL)