Mn 2+ doped Ba 2 ZnS 3 phosphor powders have been synthesized via the conventional solid-state reaction by the double-crucible method with ethanol as the reducing agent. XRD results indicate that the raw materials are completely sulfurized above 950°C and the crystallinity of the phosphors increases with the soaking time of the thermal treatment. The Ba 2 ZnS 3 :Mn 2+ powders possess an orthorhombic crystal structure with doping concentration from 0 to 0.9mol%. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra show that the emission peaks are at 611nm (under excitation at λ ex =358nm) independent of doping concentration. The high-luminance reddish orange emission results from the 4 T 1 ( 4 G)- 6 A 1 ( 6 S) transition in the Mn 2+ ion. These phosphors have broad emission spectra (550–700nm) with FWHM (full width at half maximum broadband) about 55nm. The Ba 2 ZnS 3 doped with 0.5mol% Mn 2+ appears to have the highest luminescent intensity after thermal treatment at 950°C for 16h and the CIE coordinate is x=0.632, y=0.368.