Lithium Intercalation into TlInSe2 Crystals

p-Type TlInSe2 crystals (TlSe chain structure) are electrochemically intercalated with lithium. Intercalation is found to raise the equilibrium conductivity of the crystals by 2.5 to 3 orders of magnitude at a charge passed through the cell as small as 0.025 C. After intercalation, however, no significant changes in equilibrium conductivity or photocurrent occur. The intercalation process is accompanied by the accumulation of lithium and selenium on the cathode face of the sample and selenium on the lateral faces. The experimental data are interpreted in terms of lithium and hole diffusion. The drift mobility and diffusion coefficient of Li+ ions in the chain structure of TlInSe2 are estimated.