Electrochemical Characteristics of Crystalline and Amorphous SnS2 in Lithium Cells

Amorphous (w) and crystalline (h) SnS 2 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 ‐ SnS 2 phase exhibited superior electrochemical characteristics to those of h ‐ SnS 2 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.