Controllable synthesis of Bi2S3 via a simple hydrothermal approach starting from an inorganic precursor

A hydrothermal method was used to fabricate Bi2S3 with different morphologies (nanoparticles, nanoflaked flowers and nanothorny columniform structures) using bismuth(III) monosalicylate [BiO(C7H5O3)] and three kinds of sulfur sources [l-cysteine, thiourea and thioacetamide in water, respectively]. The influences of the reaction conditions are discussed and possible mechanism for the formation of different Bi2S3 nanostructures is proposed. The products were characterized by XRD, UV–vis, PL, FT-IR. Bismuth salicylate, which is known to be a complex, may play a critical role as a precursor and a template for the growth of linear bismuth sulfide nanorods.