In this paper, a modified in situ chemical coprecipitation technology with hybrid precursors was put forward and achieved the synthesis of YVO4:Eu3+ and LaPO4:Tb3+ phosphors. Rare earth coordination polymers with salicylic acid were used as precursors and composing with the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as dispersing media. Their microstructure and micromorphology have been analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electronic microscope (SEM), whose particle size was determined to be around 100-400 nm. Both YVO4:Eu3+ and LaPO4:Tb3+ exhibit the corresponding characteristic luminescence of Eu3+ and Tb3+ and concentration quenching effect takes place. The results suggest it is a candidate technology for the synthesis of rare earth vanadate and phosphate phosphors. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.