To　realize　their　practical　and　operable　applications　as　a　potential　optical　limiting　(OL)　material,　quantum　dots　(QDs)　need　to　have　good　processability　by　incorporating　them　into　optical-quality　matrices.　This　work　reports　a　facile　route　for　the　room-temperature　preparation　of　large,　stable　transparent　monolithic　CdS　nanocomposites　which　can　be　easily　extended　to　allow　the　introduction　of　acid-sensitive　functional　molecules/nanoparticles　into　a　silica　network　by　sol-gel　chemistry.　Our　strategy　involves　a　two-step　sol-gel　process　(acid-catalyst　hydrolysis　and　basic-catalyst　condensation)　and　the　co-condensation　of　the　resulting　alkoxysilane-capped　CdS　QDs　with　other　alkoxysilanes,　which　allows　the　CdS　QDs　to　become　part　of　the　silica　covalent　network.　The　degradation　and　agglomeration　of　CdS　QDs　were　thereby　effectively　restrained,　and　large　monolithic　transparent　CdS-silica　gel　glass　was　obtained.　Using　Z-scan　theory　and　the　resulting　open-aperture　Z-scan　curves,　the　nonlinear　extinction　coefficient　of　the　CdS-silica　nanocomposite　gel　glass　was　calculated　to　be　1.02　x　10(-14)　cm　W-1,　comparable　to　that　of　the　parent　CdS　QD　dispersion,　indicating　their　promise　for　OL　applications.