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The article describes a robust method for the facile polyol synthesis of high-quality CuS nanocrystals with a controlled hierarchical nanoplate structure. The success of this method relies on manipulating the reaction kinetics with different sulfur precursors. In particular, with a medium releasing rate of S2−, we are able to produce CdS hierarchical spherical nanoflowers composed with multi-layered nanoplates, while a slow or fast release of S2− gives the monodispersed hexagonal nanoplates or disordered nanoplate complexes, respectively. Benefitting from its large surface area and the hierarchical structure for light reflection, the CuS nanoflower with a hierarchical plate structure showed the best electrocatalytic and photocatalytic performances when benchmarking its activity with the well-shaped nanoplate and the disordered nanoplate complex.