Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles were synthesized by wet chemical technique using metal thiourea precursor at 250 C. The structural and morphological properties of as grown nanoparticles have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The influence of different concentration of polyethylene glycol as structure directing agent on the morphologies of Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles are investigated on thin films deposited by spin coating technique. The mean crystallite size of the Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles was found to improve with polyethylene glycol concentration. Scanning electron microscopy images of Cu2ZnSnS4 revealed aggregated spherical shaped nanoparticles whereas the polyethylene glycol assisted Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticle films show nanoflakes and nanorods structures with increasing concentration of polyethylene glycol. Transmission electron microscopy analysis has also been performed to determine the size and structure of nanorods. UV-vis absorption spectroscopy shows the broad band absorption with optical bandgap of 1.50 eV for polyethylene glycol assisted Cu2ZnSnS4 films. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.