Copper sulfide (CuS) nanocrystals with special morphologies, such as flower- and trepang-like morphology have been successfully synthesized via a simple and convenient solution route at low temperature from shuttle-like CuO crystals. The morphology of the products can be easily controlled by choosing appropriate solvent as the reaction medium. Studies found that the copper source and reaction time also have important influence on the morphology of the final products. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.