Zn2P2O7: Mn was synthesized by wet chemical route and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and photoluminescence (PL) techniques. EPR spectroscopic studies confirmed the presence of both Mn2+ and Mn4+ ions in zinc pyrophosphate. The presence of EPR signal at g = 2 is attributed to Mn2+ at Zn2+ site having octahedral coordination of oxygen whereas the presence of an EPR signal at g = 1.998 is attributed to Mn4+ at Zn2+ site having considerably lower symmetry due to the presence of extra interstitial oxygen ions required for charge compensation or due to the substitution of manganese at distorted 5-coordinated zinc site. Photoluminescence spectrum also shows two bands, one at 500 nm (green emission), which is attributed to the T-4(1) ((4)G)-(6)A(1) (S-6) transition of Mn2+ and the other centered at 686 nm (red emission), which is attributed to the electronic transition between E-2 and (4)A(2) of Mn4+. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.