<p>A PDP (Plasma Display Panel) is provided which includes an improved surface layer and thereby has improved secondary-electron emission characteristics and charge retention characteristics. This PDP can stably operate with a low electric-power consumption while exhibiting satisfactory image display performances. Also provided is a PDP in which the occurrence of delays in discharge during driving is prevented and which can be expected to exhibit high-quality image display performances even when the PDP is a high-resolution PDP driven at a high speed. A surface layer (protective film) (8) which comprises CeO2 as a major component and contains 16-29 mol% barium and which has a thickness of about 1 µm is disposed on the side of a dielectric layer (7) which faces a discharge space (15). Thus, an electron level with a certain depth is formed in the forbidden band of the surface layer (8), or the electron level of the valence band thereof is increased. A reduction in band gap is thereby attained, and secondary-electron emission characteristics and charge retention characteristics are improved.</p>
