Shape and phase evolution of nickel sulfide nano/microcrystallines via a facile way

• We presented a facile method to obtain nickel sulfides nano/microcrystallines.
• Pure cubic Ni3S4 can be transformed to cubic NiS2 by increasing reaction temperature.
• The reaction conditions have an important influence on the morphology of the products.
• FTIR and Raman peaks of as-synthesized NiS2 and Ni3S4 were investigated.
• The as-prepared Ni3S4 and NiS2 display antiferromagnetic behavior.

Nickel sulfides nano/microcrystallines were synthesized through a facile and efficient single-source method by thermal decomposition the precursor of tetrakis thiourea nickel chloride crystals (TTNC) complex in a Teflon-lined autoclave. It is found that the reaction temperature, reaction time and relative reaction pressure have important influence on morphology of the final products and pure Ni3S4 can be transformed to NiS2 by increasing the thermal decomposition temperature from 200 °C to 250 °C under sealed conditions. Meanwhile, infrared absorption, Raman spectrums and magnetic properties of as-prepared cubic Ni3S4 and NiS2 were investigated.