Two-dimensional (2D) Tin (II) sulfide (SnS) nanosheets were successfully synthesized by a novel thioglycolic acid (TGA) assisted hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction characterization reveals that the product is well-crystallized SnS with orthorhombic structure. Transmission electron microscopy observation shows that the SnS crystals display 2D sheet-like nanomorphology. Further structure characterization by selected area electron diffraction identifies that the SnS nanosheets are single crystalline in nature. Furthermore, the mechanism and critical factors for the TGA-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of the SnS nanosheets have been preliminarily discussed. (C) 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.