Cubic phase ZnS nanciparticles of several nanometers were synthesized directly via the liquid-solid reaction between zinc acetate and thiourea in air at 190 degrees C for 3 h. The structure, composition and optical property of the resultant product were characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDX), Raman and UV-vis absorption spectra. The proposed method has also been successfully extended to synthesize MnS, CuS, CdS, PbS nanoparticles, etc., and may serve as a general kind of simple, mild and cheap way to synthesize semiconducting metal sulfide nanomaterials on a large scale. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.