Single phase europium-activated gadolinium aluminum borate, Gd1-xEuxAl3(BO3)4 (0<x<1) was obtained by the evaporation of its nitrate solution, and calcination at 900 to 1100C in air. All the solid solution was identified as the isomorphs of huntite. Eu31 activated GdAl3(BO3)4 showed intense red emission with CIE chromaticity coordinates of (0.645, 0.330) under 147nm excitation. According to the excitation and emission spectra, the red emission of Eu31 was decreased under excitation of the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region (158-160nm), and increased under excitation UV region (258-260nm) with the increase of Eu31 concentration. In comparison with the absorption data of borates, the 158 nm excitation peak was assigned to the energy level of BO3 groups. In excitation spectra, the sharp 274nm peak, corresponding to the 8S72→6I2/11 transition of Gd31 in addition to the f-f transitions of Eu31 were observed. Consequently, the emission of Eu31 was induced by the energy transfer of VUV excitation to the activator Eu31 ions via the co-activator Gd31 in GdAl3(BO3)4.