Synthesis of different morphologies of bismuth sulfide nanostructures via hydrothermal process in the presence of thioglycolic acid

Different morphologies of bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) nanostructures including nanoparticles, nanorods, nanobelts and nanoflowers have been prepared via a simple hydrothermal reaction between bismuth nitrate, Bi(NO3)3·5H2O, and thioglycolic acid (TGA) at relatively low temperature. Products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra. The effect of reactant concentration, molar ratio of TGA to the bismuth nitrate, temperature and reaction time on the morphology, particle sizes and phases of nanocrystalline Bi2S3 products has been investigated.