High-quality Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films were first in situ grown by a reactive magnetron co-sputtering technique. Raman examination and XRD analysis indicate that the grown film shows a single CZTS phase with good crystallinity and strong preferential orientation along (1 1 2) plane. SEM analysis reveals a homogeneous, compact surface morphology and large columnar grains throughout thickness for the film. The in situ grown CZTS film demonstrates an optical absorption coefficient of higher than 10(4) cm(-1) and an optical band gap of 1.52 +/- 0.01 eV. The carrier concentration, resistivity and mobility of the CZTS film are 3.9 x 10(16) cm(-3), 5.4 Omega cm and 30 cm(2) V-1 s(-1), respectively and the conduction type is p-type. These optical and electrical properties are suitable for a thin film solar cell fabrication. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.