PbS nanowires were synthesized with a novel galvanic cell at room temperature with lead and gold as negative and positive electrodes. The aqueous electrolyte solution contains sodium thiosulfate, sodium sulfate and 1-thioglycerol (TG). It was found out that lead dissolved spontaneously and produced PbS crystals in the electrolyte solution immediately under the catalysis of TG. Similar to our earlier discovery on the TG catalyzed galvanic reaction between lead and sodium selenosulfate, our study shows that TG dramatically catalyzes the oxidation of lead into Pb2+ and the reduction of thiosulfate into S2-. With the addition of butylamine into the electrolyte solution, PbS nanowires were produced after 6 h of reaction. The diameter of these nanowires is about 50 nm and their lengths are in the range of 1-3 μ m. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.