Yellow-emitting pure Zn3 V2 O8 phosphors were successfully synthesized via a simple high-temperature solid-state method using BaF2 as heat-assisted co-solvent. The purity of Zn3V2O8 was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and its optical properties were analyzed by PLE/ PL spectrum, thermal quenching spectrum and fluorescence lifetime curve analysis. The results show that Zn3V2O8 exhibits strong broadband emission in the range of 400 ~ 800 nm under the excitation of 360 nm, which is attributed to 3T2 →1 A1 and 3T1 →1 A1 transition. Zn3 V2 O8 can emit bright yellow light and the optimum emission wavelength is 550 nm. Under 550 nm, Zn3 V2 O8 phosphors show wide absorption bands in the range of 200 ~ 450 nm. The decay time of Zn3V2O8 phosphor is 1. 67 ms and its inner quantum efficiency reaches 47. 09% at room temperature. Moreover, when the temperature rose to 140 ℃, its emission intensity retention could reach 25. 1% of its initial intensity at room temperature, which is higher than that of other garnet structure vanadate materials. Therefore, Zn3V2O8 phosphor as a novel yellow light source for white light-emitting diode devices has potential advantages in terms of low cost and the ability to be mass-produced.