A new blue-emitting phosphor, Sr1− x Pb x ZnO2, was prepared by a novel adipic acid templated sol–gel route. Photoluminescence and crystalline properties were investigated as functions of calcination temperatures and the Pb2+ doping levels. It was found that under UV excitation with a wavelength of 283 or 317nm, the phosphors gave emission from 374 to 615nm with a peak centered at 451nm. This broad-band was composed of UV and the visible range was attributed to an impurity-trapped exciton-type emission. The maximum emission intensity of the Sr1− x Pb x ZnO2 phosphors occurred at a Pb concentration of x=0.01. The decay time was observed to be ∼33ms for the compound doped with 1mol% Pb prepared at 1000°C. Diffuse reflectance spectra revealed the characteristic absorption peaks and the bandgap energy of SrZnO2 was found to be 3.4eV. SEM analysis indicated that phosphor particles have an irregularly rounded morphology and the average particle size was found to be approximately 1μm.