In the current paper lead sulphide (PbS) thin films have been deposited on glass slide substrates via a simple and easily controlled method, proceeding large area films, using the chemical bath deposition technique. The reactive substances used to obtained the PbS layers were (Pb(NO3)(2)), (NaOH), (SC(NH2)(2)) and H2O for different concentration and dipping times, at constant room temperature. The structure was determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The films are very adherent to the substrate and well crystallized according to the centered cubic structure with the preferential orientation (2 0 0). The surface morphology and crystallite sizes were determined by scanning electron microscope measurements. The optical properties were carried out from spectroscopy measurements of transmission-reflection and ellipsometry. The thickness of these films was controlled by changing the dipping times and the concentrations of the reaction solution. Experiments showed that the growth parameters and thermal treatment influenced the structure, the morphology and the optical properties of PbS films. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.