The tin sulfides compounds SnS and SnS2 nanoflakes were prepared by the microwave-assisted polyol synthetic method. The as-prepared nanoscale flakes were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectra. The influences of solvents and microwave irradiation on the formation of products have been studied. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.