We report on a preparation of hybrid particles with polymeric cores and ZnS shells. Two types of monodisperse sterically stabilized polystyrene particles with hydroxyl-terminated PEG chains (PS/PEGMA) or beta-diketone groups (PS/AAEM) on the surface have been prepared and characterized. Formation of ZnS layer on the surface of submicron particles has been studied by SEM and EDX. Deposition of ZnS on the surface of PS/PEGMA particles is not uniform and leads to formation of 'raspberry' morphology with rough surface. It has been found that presence of beta-diketone groups on the particle surface leads to formation of well-defined ZnS layers. It has been assumed that such effect is due to the complexation of Zn cations by beta-diketone groups leading to nucleation and growth of ZnS crystals on the polymer particle surface. Polymeric particles were completely covered with ZnS if the loaded amount of inorganic material was higher then 40 wt%. The thickness of ZnS layer on the particle surface can be easily varied by changing the ZnS load (in present study maximal thickness of the ZnS shell was 70 nm). It has been found that increase of the ultrasound power leads to considerable increase of the ZnS deposition on the particle surface without strong changes of the particle morphology. Hybrid particles have been investigated with XRD technique and their optical properties were studied by UV-spectroscopy. The colloidal stability of obtained particles was studied by separation analyser. Sedimentation experiments indicate that colloidal stability of obtained composite particles depends strongly on loaded ZnS amount and pH value of the aqueous medium. It has been found that highest sedimentation velocities (or maximum of instability) were determined by ZnS loads, which provide complete coverage of the particle surface. Increase of the ZnS layer thickness led to better stability of hybrid particles in aqueous medium. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.