Single crystal structure, electrical and electrochemical properties of the quaternary thiospinel: Ag2FeSn3S8

Single crystals of Ag2FeSn3S8 have been obtained by heating pure metals and sulphur in evacuated silica tubes at 750 °C. Structural analysis of Ag2FeSn3S8 by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows that it crystallizes in the Fd3̄m space group with a=10.5723 (4) Å. The room temperature resistivity for the above thiospinel is found to be 3.3×104 Ω cm. The usefulness of this material as cathode in rechargeable lithium batteries is indicated by a discharge capacity of ≈107.7 A h/kg in 0.1 M LiClO4 in THF when coupled with a lithium anode for several cycles.