Sr<sub>2</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub>: Eu phosphor for white light emitting diodes (LEDs) was synthesized by employing an as-prepared (Sr, Eu)CO<sub>3</sub>@SiO<sub>2</sub> core-shell precursor as starting materials, and the effect of the core-shell precursor was also discussed on the crystal structure, particle morphology and luminescent properties of the resultant phosphor. The results showed that the hybrid β- and α′-Sr<sub>2</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub>: Eu phosphor with fine particle size and narrow distribution could be obtained at a lower firing temperature than that in conventional solidstate reaction method, and its formation mechanism was deduced to be (Sr, Eu)CO<sub>3</sub> diffusion controlled reaction process. Responded to its hybrid crystal structure, this phosphor exhibited the combined luminescence of β- and α′-Sr<sub>2</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub>: Eu