CuS submicrotubes with quadrate cross section were synthesized by two simple steps: (i) preparation of copper-thiourea (Tu) complex: and (ii) subsequent reaction of the as-prepared complex with Na(2)S solution. Copper-Tu complex was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric (TG) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) measurements. CuS submicrotubes were found to be constructed by covellite CuS with a hexagonal phase. The possible mechanism for the formation of quadrate CuS submicrotubes was proposed. This simple method may be applied to synthesize other inorganic materials with hollow structure. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.