Ag
2S nanospheres were synthesized by a hydrothermal reaction using
L-cysteine as the sulfur source andchelating reagent. The X-ray diffraction patterns and X-ray photoelectron spectra confirmed that the productswere monoclinic
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-Ag
2S. The optical absorption spectra of the Ag
2S nanospheres showed very broad absorptionpeaks centered at about 515 nm in wavelength. Photoluminescence spectra exhibited emission peaks centeredat ~637 nm in wavelength accompanied by weaker shoulder peaks at ~590 nm in wavelength when thesample was excited with a wavelength of 490 nm. In addition, the formation mechanism of the Ag
2Snanospheres was also determined. The l-cysteine-assisted hydrothermal route using
L-cysteine as the sulfursource and chelating reagent provides an alternative approach to generate sulfide nanocrystals.