Nanocrystalline undoped and Mn 2? -doped zinc silicate (a-Zn 2 SiO 4 :Mn) nanophosphors were in situ prepared by a sol-gel technique. The crystallite morphology for Mn-doped and undoped nanophosphors have been determined by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. In the case of undoped Zn 2 SiO 4 nanophosphors, the powder with an average particle size around 80 nm shows a strong luminescence band centred at 760 nm at room temperature in the visible range. In addition, Zn 2 SiO 4 :Mn nanophosphors emit very strong green luminescence (525 nm), which originated from the 4 T 1 -6 A 1 transitions of Mn 2? ions. The luminescence spectra and lifetime of the excited state of Mn 2? ionsdoped Zn 2 SiO 4 nanocrystals are investigated.