ZnS thin films have been prepared by chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique onto glass substrates deposited at about 80 degrees C using aqueous solution of zinc sulfate hepta-hydrate, ammonium sulfate, thiourea, ammonia and hydrazine hydrate. Ammonia and hydrazine hydrate were used as complexing agents. The influence of the ratio of [Zn]/[S] on formation and properties of ZnS thin films has been investigated. The ratio of [Zn]/[S] was changed from 3:1 to 1:9 by varying volumes and/or concentrations of zinc sulfate hepta-hydrate and thiourea in the deposition solution. The structural and morphological characteristics of films have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope and UV-vis spectroscopic analysis. ZnS films were obtained with the [Zn]/[S] ratio ranged from 1:1 to 1:6. In the cases of [Zn]/[S] ratio >= 3:1 or <= 1:9, no deposition was found. Transparent and polycrystalline ZnS film was obtained with pure-wurtzite structure at the [S]/[Zn] ratio of 1:6. The related formation mechanisms of CBD ZnS are discussed. The deposited ZnS films show good optical transmission (80-90%) in the visible region and the band gap is found to be in the range of 3.65-3.74 eV. The result is useful to further develop the CBD ZnS technology. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.