CuInS2, films were synthesized by sulphurization of In/Cu stacked elemental layers (SEL) deposited onto glass and Mo-coated glass substrates by graphite box annealing at temperatures of 620-880 K, The films thus synthesized were characterized by measuring electrical, optical, microstructural and photoluminescence properties, The microstructure and hence the physical properties of the films depended critically on the amount of sulphur incorporation. Nature of charge carriers depended on both Cu/In and S/(Cu + In) ratio and the carrier concentration varied between 10(14) and 10(18) cm(-3). Grain boundary scattering effects were critically studied by measuring the electrical conductivity and Hall mobility simultaneously on the same sample. The shape of the grains depended critically on the sulphur content. The PL spectra were dominated by the excitonic peak similar to 788 nm followed by another peak at similar to 892 nm which may be ascribed to the DA transition. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.