Layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have the potential to be used as an alternative to graphene in nano applications, because of their unique opto-electric properties. However, the large-scale synthesis of TMDCs has not been thoroughly investigated with different sulfurization agents, nor have the effects of defects and vacancies on such synthesis been determined. This study therefore looks at the synthesis of MoS2 nanosheets from a thin Mo film to compare the effects of using H2S gas or sulfur powder as the sulfurization agent. In either case, a four-layered nanosheet is obtained; however, the good stoichiometry of MoS2, smallest defects, and fewest vacancies are obtained using H2S. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.