Thin films of CuI were prepared by pulse laser deposition technique and their characteristics are studied. These films exhibited optical transmittance over 80% in the wavelength range 400-900 nm and minimum resistivity of about 2 K Omega cm. Blue shift in the onset of optical absorption of the CuI films is observed to that of polycrystalline powder of CuI. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.