Pure and uniform hexagonal-phase ZnS nanorods with quantum confinement effect were synthesized by solvothermal decomposition of an air-stable, easily obtained single-source molecular precursor (zinc diethyldithiocarbamate, Zn-(DDTC)(2)) in hydrazine hydrate aqueous solutions at 150-200 degrees C, and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and UV-vis absorption spectra. The possible formation mechanism of one-dimensional ZnS nanostructure in the present system was also briefly discussed. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.