Large-scale synthesis of semiconductor ZnS nanosheets was achieved by the evaporation of ZnS nanopowders. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observations show that the ZnS nanosheets have a typical width of 1-10 mum and an average thickness of about 20 nm. The as-synthesized ZnS nanosheets have a hexagonal wurtzite structure and most of the ZnS nanosheets grow along [001], however, [100] and [10 (1) over bar] can also be observed frequently. And photoluminescence (PL) measurements showed that the as-synthesized nanosheets have a stable and strong green emission band centered at 545 nm, and a weaker blue emission band centered at 440 nm. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.