Elegant 3D SnS urchin-like architectures have been successfully prepared using SnCl2.2H(2)O and KSCN as starting materials in ethylene glycol under a mild solvothermal condition. The morphological transformation from 3D frameworks into ID nanostructures has been observed, which, were strongly dependent on the prolonged reaction time. The prepared products were characterized by various techniques, such as XRD, XPS, FESEM, TEM and ED. The possible formation mechanism was also discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.