ZnS: Mn nanophosphor has been doped with quencher impurity Ni using the colloidal precipitation method with capping agent polyvinylpyrrolidone. The formation of ∼2.5 nm sized nanoparticles has been confirmed by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope studies. Energy and time resolved photoluminescence spectra of the synthesized nanophosphors have been studied at room temperature. Photoluminescent spectra for ZnS: Mn, Ni show three peaks at 412 nm, 433 nm and 590 nm corresponding to Ni impurity, sulphide vacancies (Vs) and Mn impurity, respectively. The ZnS: Mn nanophosphor show typical nanosecond lifetimes for defect-related emission and millisecond lifetimes for Mn impurity-related emission. However, the ZnS: Mn, Ni samples showed lifetime shortening, with variation of dopant concentration for defect-related (420 nm) as well as impurity-related emission (590 nm), which is attributed to exchange interaction between Mn2+ and nearest neighbour Ni2+ impurities. © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd.