Crystalline and poorly crystalline bismuth sulfide with different sizes were synthesized using hydrothermal, solvothermal and liquid-phase method at low temperature (110-180degreesC) through changing reaction conditions. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The results indicated that solvent, reaction temperature and time were key factors for purity, size, and morphology of the resulting products. A reasonable mechanism was proposed for these processes. For the established precursors, we put forward the optimum synthesis conditions for preparing nanoscale bismuth sulfide. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.