Ag2S is an important direct semiconductor material that receives considerable research interest because of its low toxicity and high chemical stability. This work reports an easy and novel route for the synthesis of hollow Ag2S particles by a sacrificial core method in surfactant containing aqueous media. Sulfur is used as a sacrificial core in this method and removed by dissolving in carbon disulfide. Core sulfur particles were synthesized in situ by acid catalyzed reaction of sodium thiosulphate in aqueous surfactant media. The particles were characterized by using different instrumental techniques, showing 67% improved light emission capacity in terms of quantum yield compared to solid Ag2S particles. The same route is also suggested to prepare other nanoparticles. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.