Well-crystallized gamma-MnS films in a pure phase have been deposited on commercial glass substrates by chemical bath deposition. The structure and morphology of the obtained gamma-MnS film were characterized, and the results showed that the film was composed of asymmetric hexagonal crystals with a size of 500-1000 nm. The photo luminescence of the gamma-MnS film has been studied from 295 K down to 30 K and exhibited two emission bands centered at 1.8 and 1.66 eV, respectively. The temperature dependence of photoluminescence was also observed and interpreted using the spin-wave-assist photoluminescence model. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.