Syntheses of the one-dimensional and platelike wurtzite ZnS nanostructures have been achieved by the thermal evaporation of ZnS powder. The role of the substrate temperature and Au catalyst in defining the morphology of the ZnS nanostructures has been found. The nanowires and nanoribbons were synthesized onto the Si substrate in the presence of the Au catalyst, and the platelike ZnS nanostructures were produced onto Au-uncoated Si substrate. The morphological change of the nanostructures was studied through scanning electron microscope. Room temperature photoluminescence measurements with 325 nm excitation showed three emission bands located at 345 nm, 395 nm and 460 nm, respectively. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.