Single-crystalline bismuth sulfide nanorods were synthesized via a convenient solvothermal route and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. A possible mechanism of formation was proposed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.