In this paper, the core-shell structured SiO2@YVO4:Yb3+,Er3+ microspheres have been successfully prepared via a facile sol-gel process followed by a heat treatment. X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy disperse X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectra were used to characterize the samples. The results reveal that the SiO2 spheres have been successfully coated by YVO4:Yb3+,Er3+ phosphors to form core-shell structures and the size of obtained microspheres has a uniform distribution. Additionally, the samples exhibit bright green luminescence under the excitation of a 980 nm laser diode. The photoluminescence intensity increases with the number of coatings. These core-shell structured SiO2@YVO4:Yb3+,Er3+ microspheres may have great potential in the fields of infrared detection and display devices. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.