The structure of novel BaZn1-xEuxV2O7 nanoparticles (synthesised employing solution combustion process) was refined and determined from X-ray diffraction (XRD) profiles by the Rietveld refinement method. It was found to crystallize in orthorhombic lattice with the Pnma space group. Further structural informations and particle morphology were investigated using FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The photoluminescence spectral analysis showed that these nanophosphor can be effectively excited by near-UV light (305 nm, 395 nm), emitting intense red luminescence (620 nm) corresponding to the hypersensitive D-5(0)-> F-7(2) transition of Eu3+ ion, located at low-symmetry site with no inversion center in BaZnV2O7 crystal lattice. The dependence of luminescence intensity and chromaticity index on Zn2+ substitution by Eu3+ ions in BaZnV2O7 was also investigated which unveil 5 mol% as the optimum concentration. These nanophosphors are potential candidate for white LEDs using near ultra-violet (NUV) LED chip excitation. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.