Synthesis, characterization, optical and magnetic properties of a nickel sulfide series by three different methods

•A nickel sulfide series were synthesized of new precursor [Ni(TSC)2]Cl2.•Thermal decomposition and hydrothermal methods were applied.•Temperature plays the key role in the formation of nickel sulfides.

Two methods of thermal decomposition and hydrothermal routes were applied for synthesis of nickel sulfides of new precursor [Ni(TSC)2]Cl2 (TSC = thiosemicarbazide) and compared two methods with each other. Also another method by direct putting a mixed aqueous solution composed of NiCl2⋅6H2O and TSC (H2NNHCSNH2) into an autoclave without presence of any surfactants was examined to investigate the morphology of products. The effect of the reaction temperature on phase and morphology of as-synthesized products was investigated. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). Magnetization measurement indicates that NiS samples show a weak ferromagnetic behavior maybe due to nano-size effect.