Europium doped calcium pyrovanadate nanoparticles Ca2V2O7:Eu3+, having a size of 57-63 nm, were synthesized using combustion process. Structure, morphological and optical properties of nanophosphors have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fluorescence spectrometry (PL) and Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. X-ray studies shows that a pure triclinic Ca2V2O7 phase was obtained at 900 degrees C temperature. The red emission observed at 620 nm upon excitation at 305 nm is due to hypersensitive transition D-5(0) -> F-7(2) of luminescent activator Eu3+ location at a site with no inversion symmetry in Ca2V2O7 crystal lattice. High luminescent intensity and easy synthesis technique make this red phosphor a promising candidate for application as luminescent materials. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.