Copper sulfides were synthesized by using the low-molecular-mass hydrogel nanofibers self-assembled from a L-glutamic acid derivative. The as-prepared copper sulfides showed a nanoribbon structure with diameter of 30-70 nm and lengths of 1-10 mu m. The investigation of FT-IR absorption spectra and XRD pattern for the neat hydrogel and composite gel suggested that H-bonding was the main driving force to help the formation of ordered nanofibers of the hydrogel and the composite gel. The resulted mineralization indicated that the inorganic ions (Cu2+) were firstly coordinated to the carboxylate anions (COO-). With the penetration of H2S, the preformed CuS nanoparticles on the surface of the fibers acted as the growing points for the continuous growth. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.