Silver sulfide nanowire precursor was prepared at room temperature by simple mixing of mercaptoacetic acid (MM) and silver nitrate solutions for 10-20 min duration. The MAA concentration in the chemical reaction bath was varied from 1 to 10 mM to afford nanowire precursors ranging in length from 800 nm to 42 mu m and diameters ranging from 53 to 210 nm. The chemical identity of the precursor was established as a Ag+--SCH2COOH complex by a variety of spectroscopic probes. It could be converted into crystalline Ag2S nanowires (with no alteration in nanowire dimensions) by a thermal anneal at similar to 300 degrees C. Reverse cation exchange of the Ag2S nanowire precursor in a Cd2+-containing medium afforded CdS nanowires (with some alterations in morphology) whose chemical identity was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence. Finally the dual role of MM as a capping agent and reducing agent in the formation of the Ag2S nanowire precursor complex is briefly discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.