Controllable synthesis of MnS nanocrystals from a single-source precursor

[Display omitted] ► High quality MnS NCs are synthesized using a facile single-source precursor method. ► MnS NCs with well-defined shapes and crystal structures can be selectively synthesized. ► Precursor, temperature, and heating rate play key roles in the synthesis of MnS NCs. A facile single-source precursor method has been applied for the selective synthesis of MnS nanocrystals (NCs) with well-defined shapes and crystal structures such as hexapod, octahedral, hexagonal shaped α-MnS NCs, and pencil-shaped γ-MnS NCs. The effects of the composition of precursor, reaction temperature, and the heating rate on the morphologies, and crystal structures of MnS NCs were systematically studied for the first time.