EN
Undoped and Eu^{3+}-doped disodium zinc diphosphate Na_2ZnP_2O_7 (NZPO) single crystals are grown by the Czochralski method. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and Raman techniques were used to check the crystallographic structure. Excitation and emission spectra were measured at room temperature and studied. The Eu^{3+} ions occupy a non-centrosymmetric site with different coordination number. Very efficient energy transfer from O-Eu^{3+} band state to Eu^{3+} excited energy levels is highlighted.