A novel composite perovskite Ba3ZnNb2O9: Eu3+ orange red-emitting phosphor: Crystal structure, luminescence properties and high thermal stability

•A serious of composite-perovskite-structure Ba3ZnNb2O9: Eu3+ phosphors were synthesized successfully.•The Microstructure, luminescence performance and thermal stability of the phosphors were studied systematically.•The chromaticity coordinates of the Ba3ZnNb2O9: xEu3+ phosphor with a doping concentration of 0.3 mol are very close to the standard values of commercial phosphors and red phosphors of the National Television Standards Committee.•The Ba3ZnNb2O9: Eu3+ phosphor shows potential application in WLEDs.