Emulsion polymerization of ethylene from vinyl functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (V-MSNs) was reported. V-MSNs were synthesized via deposition of vinyl monolayers on the pore walls, and the relative surface coverage of the vinyl monolayers was 74%. A fluorinated P-O-chelated nickel catalyst coordinated to the vinyl groups. These V-MSNs hosting catalysts were full dispersed in water assisted by ultrasonic processor in the presence of surfactants. After addition of ethylene, polyethylene (PE) chains grew from the pores of V-MSNs, formation of stable nanocomposite latices with solid content up to 17.3%. Our method made V-MSNs well-dispersed in the PE matrix. Especially, because of a strong interaction between PE and nanoparticles, a stable V-MSNs core/PE shell structure was formed upon thermal treatment above melting temperature of the PE. Samples were analyzed by a number of techniques including TEM, N-2 adsorption-desorption, FTIR, and solid state Si-29 NMR, DLS, H-1 NMR, GPC, and DSC. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1393-1402, 2009