The encapsulation of hollow-ZnO microparticles with the BiVO4 pigment is reported. The crystalline phases present in the composite ZnO/BiVO4 microparticles were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) studies and Raman spectroscopy. The micrometric ZnO/BiVO4 particles show morphological characteristics related to the hollow-ZnO particles used as templates. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.