A bright green light emitting Zn2SiO4:Mn phosphor has been prepared at low temperature 800 degrees C through gel combustion synthesis using zinc nitrate, manganese acetate, urea in a silica gel matrix. The structure and morphology of the phosphors using scanning electron microscopy along with thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis/Fourier transform infrared study along with X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) data show interesting trends with respect to the phase evaluation of Zn2SiO4:Mn phosphor. Photoluminescent and crystalline properties are examined as a function of firing temperature and Mn concentration. Maximum PL intensity is observed at lambda(em)=522 nm for 0.03 Mn2+ concentration, which can be attributed to the T-4(1)(G)-(6)A(1)(S) transition of Mn2+ under short ultraviolet excitation. The PL emission intensity of these phosphors is found to be more superior to that of the corresponding samples prepared using the conventional solid state method implying the suitability of this route for the preparation of device worthy phosphor materials. (c) 2007 The Electrochemical Society.