Terbium doped Zinc oxide (ZnO:Tb3+) nano-phosphors (NPr) with a hexagonal wurtzite structure were synthesised by a solution combustion method. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the formation of different kind of defects for the undoped and lower Tb doping concentrations and the formation of Tb2O3 at higher doping concentrations. A broadband orange-red emission ranging from 500 to 850 nm was obtained from the undoped ZnO while white light emission was observed from ZnO doped with 5 mol% of Tb. The colour of the emission of the Zno:Tb3+ NPr was tuned by varying the concentrations of Tb3+ in the ZnO host. The ZnO:Tb3+ NPr have potential applications in solid state lighting. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.