A simple L-cysteine assisted approach has been utilized for the growth of spheroidal AgBiS2 microciystals through solvothermal treatment of a homogeneous system of AgNO3, Bi(NO3)(3)center dot 5H(2)O and L-cysteine. L-Cysteine was acting as complexing agent as well as sulfur source. It was observed that the experimental parameters such as the synthesis temperature and variation solvents play critical roles in determining the morphology and crystal structure of the products. The phase structures, morphologies and properties of the as-prepared products were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectrum. The results indicated that the spheroidal AgBiS2 was highly crystalline with the cubic phase. The PL spectrum showed that the as-synthesized AgBiS2 showed UV (412 nm), blue (466 nm) and green (533 nm) emission. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.