For efficient polycrystalline thin-film photovoltaic devices, such as CIS and CdTe, cadmium sulfide is the commonly used window material, and an inexpensive method for preparing thin films of CdS is by solution growth. In research at Martin Marietta, thin films of CdS were deposited onto glass and indium tin oxide-coated glass substrates using an optimized chemical immersion technique which minimizes chemical waste. Solubility equilibria and film-growth rate constants were determined for cadmium salts in NH4CI and NH4OH buffered systems to characterize and optimize process conditions for stable solution-grown cadmium sulfide. Results will be presented which relate process variables to cadmium sulfide film quality.