CuInS2, CuInSe2 and CuInTe2 nanocubes of chalcopyrite structure have been successfully synthesized by hydrothermal process using deionized water as solvent at 180 degrees C for 20 h. The crystallinity, compositional, morphological and optical properties of the synthesized samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Raman and photoluminescence (PL) spectra analyses. The Raman spectra of the synthesized CuInS2, CuInSe2 and CuInTe2 samples show the dominant A(1) modes at 293, 172 and 121 cm(-1) respectively. The possible chemical reaction and mechanism of nanocubes formation were discussed. The emission wavelength of as synthesized CuInS2, CuInSe2 and CuInTe2 samples were blue shifted at 746 nm (1.66 eV), 863 nm (1.43 eV) and 859 nm (1.44 eV) respectively. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.