PbS microcrystals including multipods, truncated octahedrons and cubes were produced by the reaction of PbCl2 and thiosemicarbazide (CH5N3S) using diethylene glycol (DEG) as a solvent at 180 degreesC. When the reaction time was prolonged, the final products grew into single-crystalline PbS cubes with diameters in the range of 0.3-2 mum. A possible formation mechanism of the PbS cubes was proposed based on their shape evolutions. By changing the reactants or/and solvents, PbS dendrites and flowers could also be produced with high yield. It is found that the reaction temperature, reactants and solvents play important roles on the shape evolutions of the PbS microcrystals. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.