INTERCALATION OF Ag IN TaS2 AND TiS2.

Very thin, optically transparent crystals were used to study the electro-intercalation of Ag in TaS//2 and TiS//2. The optical observations suggest that staging occurs in both systems, and this has been verified by X-ray diffraction studies. The optical data is correlated with the open-circuit potential of the Ag-TaS//2 and Ag-TiS//2 cells. Intercalation rates and diffusion rates over a range of temperatures have also been determined from the optical data. The diffusion rates are comparable to other intercalation systems, but the intercalation rate for Ag in TaS//2 is anomalously high. A strong thickness dependence of intercalation rate for Ag in both TaS//2 and TiS//2 has been observed: the intercalation rate increases with decreasing crystal thickness. We suggest that similar thickness effects will be observed for all intercalation systems.