Superconductivity induced by electron doping in La<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow/><mml:mrow><mml:mn>1</mml:mn><mml:mo>−</mml:mo><mml:mi>x</mml:mi></mml:mrow></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mi>M</mml:mi><mml:mi>x</mml:mi></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math>OBiS<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:msub><mml:mrow/><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:math>(<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mi>M</mml:mi></mml:math><mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mrow><mml:mo>=</mml:mo></mml:mrow></mml:math>Ti, Zr, Hf, Th)

We report a strategy to induce superconductivity in the BiS${}_{2}$-based compound LaOBiS${}_{2}$. Instead of substituting F for O, we increase the charge-carrier density (electron dope) via substitution of tetravalent Th${}^{+4}$, Hf${}^{+4}$, Zr${}^{+4}$, and Ti${}^{+4}$ for trivalent La${}^{+3}$. It is found that both the LaOBiS${}_{2}$ and ThOBiS${}_{2}$ parent compounds are bad metals and that superconductivity is induced by electron doping with T${}_{c}$ values of up to 2.85 K. The superconducting and normal states were characterized by electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and heat capacity measurements. We also demonstrate that reducing the charge-carrier density (hole doping) via substitution of divalent Sr${}^{+2}$ for La${}^{+3}$ does not induce superconductivity.