A red emitting ZnTa2O6:Pr3+ phosphor with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage coordinates that match those of an ideal red emission was prepared by solid state chemical reaction. X-ray diffraction confirmed that a pure orthorhombic phase of ZnTa2O6 was crystallized. A homogeneous distribution of the Pr3+ ions was confirmed from the analysis of the time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy overlay images. In addition to the reflectance at 259 nm associated with band-to-band absorption, minor reflectance peaks associated with f-f transitions of Pr3+ were observed at 420-500 nm. The main red emission peak was split into minor peaks located at 608,619 and 639 nm that were assigned to D-1(2)-> H-3(4), P-3(0)-> H-3(6) and P-3(0) -> F-3(2) transitions of Pr3+, respectively. With increasing concentration of Pr3+, a relatively weak blue emission was observed at 488 nm and this phenomenon maybe attributed to virtual charge transfer or/and inter cross relaxation effects. The decay characteristics of the persistent emission were also calculated. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.