Abstract. Free-standing powders of doped ZnS nanoparticles have been synthesized by using a chemical co-precipitation of Zn2+, Mn2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+ with sulfur ions in aqueous solution. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the diameter of the particles is 23nm. The unique luminescence properties, such as the strength (its intensity is about 12 times that of ZnS nanoparticles) and stability of the visible-light emission, were observed from ZnS nanoparticles co-doped with Cu2+ and Mn2+. The nanoparticles could be doped with copper and manganese during the synthesis without altering the X-ray diffraction pattern. However, doping shifts the luminescence to 520540nm in the case of co-doping with Cu2+ and Mn2+. Doping also results in a blue shift on the excitation wavelength. In Cd2+-doped ZnS nanometer-scale particles, the fluorescence spectra show a red shift in the emission wavelength (ranging from 450nm to 620nm). Also a relatively broad emission (ranging from blue to yellow) has been observed. The results strongly suggest that doped ZnS nanocrystals, especially two kinds of transition metal-activated ZnS nanoparticles, form a new class of luminescent materials.