[en] Highlights: • CuS microspheres, CuS nanoplates and Cu₉S₅ nanoparticles were synthesized. • Low-toxic and facile triethylene glycol based solution process was used. • Phase formation of products from sulfur powder or thiourea precursors was discussed. • The localized surface plasmon resonance related absorption of the three products synthesized was compared. In this work, a facile and ambient pressure triethylene glycol based hot injection method with changed sulfur sources was used to prepare copper sulfides of different morphologies and phases. It was found that the phase formation of the final product was quite different when using S powder or thiourea as sulfur source, which may provide an effective way for understanding the phase control of copper sulfides in solution synthesis. Moreover, the light absorption, which was related to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), of the synthesized CuS microspheres, CuS nanoplates, and Cu₉S₅ nanoparticles was investigated, clearly showing the dependence of the LSPR related properties on different morphologies and phases.