Electrochemical characteristics of crystalline and amorphous SnS2 in lithium cells

Amorphous (w) and crystalline (h) SnS2 have been used as active cathode materials in nonaqueous lithium cells. The discharge and charge-discharge cycling properties were galvanostatically measured at different current densities from 0.1 to 1 mA/cm(2). The w-SnS2 phase exhibited superior electrochemical characteristics to those of h-SnS2 phase, as evidenced by the higher Li ion diffusion coefficient, higher specific capacity and energy and better cycling properties. The Li/w-Sns(2) cell can deliver up to 614 Ah . kg(-1) and 1100 Wh . kg(-1) at a potential around 1 V when it is discharged at 0.1 mA . cm(-2) current density. These capacity and energy density values clearly exceeded those of other lithium batteries made of different amorphous transition metal sulfides.