The host-guest nanocomposites (Y zeolite)-sulfides (FeS, CoS, NiS) were successfully prepared by a hydrothermal method and characterized by powder XRD, chemical analysis, adsorption technique, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The Y zeolite-NiS host-guest nanocomposite material was found to exhibit luminescence. This paper suggests that the luminescence mechanism of Y-NiS resulted from the excitons in the confinement areas and from the defects in the materials. The material Y-NiS may be used as luminescent materials. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.