The conception of a totally new optoelectronic composite with a highly organized mesoporous silica core and a uniform ZnS shell (200 nm in thickness) with new optical properties is reported. The starting CMI-1 material was firstly functionalized with ethylenediamine groups and then the growth of the ZnS shell was targeted by the immersion of the functionalized CMI-1 material in a Zn(CH3COO)(2) solution followed by a reaction with sodium sulfide. The new optoelectronic nanocomposite has been characterized by a series of techniques such as SEM, TEM and nitrogen adsorption-desorption. The optical properties of the new nanocomposite have been evaluated by photoluminescent spectroscopy. No quantum size effect has been observed due to the large size aggregates in ZnS later. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.