AgInS2 thin films were prepared by the spray pyrolysis technique using a water/ethanol solution containing silver acetate, indium chloride and thiourea. We reported our results on the characterization of tetragonal AgInS2 (chalcopyrite type) films, which were grown from indium deficient spraying solution. The films displayed a n-type conductivity with room temperature resistivities in the range between 10(3) and 10(4) Q cm. The absorption spectra of sprayed films revealed two direct band-gaps with characteristic energies around 1.87 and 2.01 eV, which are in good agreement with the reported energy values for interband transitions from the split p-like valence band to the s-like conduction band in tetragonal AgInS2 single crystals. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.