Chemical microsensors for the detection of Cd2+ ions in solution were prepared. The sensitive membranes are chalcogenide glasses from the CdS-AgI-Sb2S3 system. Physical, chemical and electrochemical characteristics of the sensors are presented. Quasi-nerstian responses over five orders of magnitude associated to a limit of detection lower than 10(-6) mol/1 were observed. Selectivity of the sensitive membranes versus several cations was studied. While low selectivity coefficients were obtained when the interfering cations were Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+ or Ca2+ the present sensing device appears to be non selective against Pb2+ and Cu2+ (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.