Amorphous MoS2 was synthesized solvothermally in pyridine at 190 degreesC. XRD pattern indicated that the amorphous MOS2 was made up of single layer and layer stacking had not taken place. TEM images showed that tube- and ball-like morphologies existed in the amorphous MoS2. Electron diffraction did not reveal any crystal ordering in the tube and ball, which indicated that the tube and ball were completely amorphous. The influences of reaction conditions on the formation of these morphologies were also discussed. It was proposed that the formation of the tube- and ball-like structures might be energy-favorable for the single layer of MoS2 under the synthesis conditions. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.