Mono-dispersed semiconductor ZnS hollow spheres with the diameter of 300-500 nm and the shell thickness of about 100-150 nm have been synthesized successfully by solvothermal method from ethanol solution in the presence of a special surfactant-quaternary ammonium salt of 2-undecyl-1-dithioureido-ethyl-imidazoline (SUDEI) made in our lab. The mono-dispersed ZnS hollow spheres are characterized by XRD, size distribution investment, UV-vis, TEM, and SEM, respectively. The UV-vis measurement indicates that there is a broad absorption at 210-280 nm, which is likely to be caused by "hollow-effect." A growth mechanism of ZnS hollow spheres has also been put forward and discussed. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Inc.