Yellow and orange light emission from nanoparticles of cadmium sulphide embedded in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has been observed as thin films. The synthesis of US embedded in PVA has been performed via two different routes at room temperature and the composite films have been prepared by vacuum evaporation of solvent on a glass surface. The absorption spectra show a blue shift of more than 80 nm as compared to bulk US band-gap. The photoluminescence studies indicate the air stable light emission from the films. Bright light emission at 515 nm (2.41 eV) has been observed without using PVA. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.