Fluorescence and phosphorescence are knowna s two kinds of fundamental optical signals,which have been used for myriad applications.T od ate,s imultaneous activation of stable fluorescence and long-lived room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) emission in the aqueous phase remains ab ig challenge.W ep repare zinc-doped silica nanospheres (Zn@SiNSs) with fluorescence and RTPp roperties using af acile hydrothermal synthetic strategy.F or the as-prepared Zn@SiNSs,the recombination of electrons and holes in defects and defect-stabilized excitons derived from oxygen vacancy/ C = Nb onds lead to the production of stable fluorescence and long-lived RTP( emission lasting for % 9s ,q uantum yield (QY): % 33.6 %, RTPl ifetime: % 236 ms). The internal SiÀO bonded networks and hydrophilic surface in Zn@SiNSs can reduce nonradiative decayt of orm self-protective RTP,a nd also provideh igh water solubility,e xcellent pH-and photostability.