ZnS nanoribbon film has been successfully prepared by solvothermal treating of Zn foil and S powder in hydrazine hydrate without any surfactant and post-high temperature treatment. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, SEM and PL. Results show that the obtained films were with high crystallinity and uniformity. The obtained samples were used as a photocatalyst for degradation of dye X-3B, and results show that the dye can be photocatalytically degraded with high rate by as-prepared ZnS nanoribbon film under UV light irradiation. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.