Regular one-dimensional (1D) parallel chains composed of CdS nanoparticles with cubic zinc blende crystal structure were prepared at the air/water interface via one-step synthesis and assembly process. These nanostructures were produced through an interfacial reaction between Cd2+ ions in the aqueous solution of cadmium acetate and H2S in the gaseous phase under Langmuir monolayers of 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PDA). It was demonstrated that PDA molecules self-assembled into parallelly aligned linear supermolecules at the air/water interface with the aid of pi-pi interactions and acted as templates for the formation of the superstructures. The experimental conditions including temperature and reaction time have great influences on the superstructure formation and the parameters of the parallel chains. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.