Two different semiconducting bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) nanostructures (feather-like Bi2S3 nanotubes and fiber-like Bi2S3 nanotubes) with diameters around 50-60nm and lengths about tens of micrometers were prepared successfully by a chemical lithography route. The results indicated that the employment of polyvinylpyrrolidone led to the precursor with feather-like morphology and the acid had ripening effect on and etching action to the ultimate formation of the fiber-like Bi2S3 nanotubes. The photoluminescence spectra of two different Bi2S3 nanostructures revealed that the relative position of emission peaks was influenced by the thin edges of the feather-like nanotubes due to the quantum-confinement effect. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.