ZnS nanowires and nanoribbons have been obtained by the vapor-solid (VS) method. The morphology depends mainly on the deposition temperature; nanowires are grown at temperatures between 300 degrees C and 650 degrees C while the growth of nanoribbons takes place at deposition temperatures in the range 650 degrees C-900 degrees C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies show that from cubic ZnS precursor hexagonal-phase nanostructures are obtained. Cathodoluminescence (CL) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements show a dominance of the native defects related emission compared to the near band edge emission, with marked differences between nanowires and nanoribbons. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.