The growth kinetics of silver sulfide films chemically deposited from aqueo
us silver nitrate-thiourea solutions at pH around 9 is studied as a functio
n of the concentrations in solution, temperature (40 to 80 degrees C) and h
ydrodynamic regime. It is found that the growth takes place in a narrow pH
window (8.8 to 9.4). It is activated by temperature with an apparent activa
tion energy of 20.4 kJ.mol(-1), which is coherent with a diffusion control
evidenced by experiments at different hydrodynamic regimes. The overall rat
e equation has been determined. The ultimate thickness of the films (around
1-2 microns) is actually limited by a parasitic process attributed to unst
icking.