Copper sulfide nanorods have been prepared by microwave irradiation of 1 % (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate aqueous solution of copper nitrate and thioacetamide. Powder X-ray diffraction pattern indicated that the product was pure hexagonal phase copper sulfide. The product was also characterized by the techniques of transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron diffraction. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.