Tin (II) sulfide crystal belts, with tens of micrometers in width, several millimeters in length and several micrometers in thickness, was successfully grown in ethylenediamine (en) via a solvothermal route at low temperature. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), induced-coupled plasma (ICP), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). The vibrational property of the as-prepared SnS belt was examined by Raman spectra. The possible growth mechanism of SnS crystal belts was discussed, which revealed that the solvent (en) was crucial in the formation of belt-like SnS crystals. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.