Sealed-tube synthesis and phase diagram of LixTiS2 (0 ≤ x ≤1)

We reported a new method to prepare LixTiS2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) at 600 °C in sealed tube using Li2S as lithium source. The LixTiS2 samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and differential thermal analysis. The variations of the lattice parameters with lithium content x in LixTiS2 were determined by X-ray powder diffraction analysis for both 1T and 3R phases. The phase transition between low-temperature 1T phase and high-temperature 3R phase was confirmed by the powder X-ray diffraction analysis. Based on the differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction results, a schematic phase diagram of the LixTiS2 system has been constructed, providing a guideline to synthesize LixTiS2 in 1T structure or 3R structure.