Light sources with nanometer-sized VUV radiation-absorbing phosphors

A light source comprises: (a) a source of plasma discharge that emits electromagnetic radiation, a portion of which has wavelengths shorter than about 200 nm; and (b) a phosphor composition (40) that comprises particles, each of the particles comprising at least a first phosphor (42) and at least a second phosphor (44), wherein the first phosphor (42) may form a coating around each of the particles (44) of the second phosphor, the phosphor composition is disposed such that the first phosphor absorbs substantially the portion of EM radiation having wavelengths shorter than about 200 nm, and the first phosphor emits EM radiation having wavelengths longer than about 200 nm.