A　rapid　synthesis　route,　microwave-assisted　chemical　bath　deposition　(MA-CBD)　method,　has　been　developed　for　the　fabrication　of　cadmium　sulfide　(CdS)　and　zinc　sulfide　(ZnS)　thin　films.　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　indicated　that　the　structures　of　as-deposited　US　and　ZnS　films　are　sphalerite　and　wurtzite,　respectively.　The　optical　transmission　measurements　reveal　that　the　band　gaps　of　the　typical　US　and　ZnS　films　are　2.51　eV　and　3.91　eV,　respectively.　The　results　show　that　the　MA-CBD　is　a　very　time　saving　method　to　fabricate　the　US,　ZnS　films.　(c)　2005　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.