Tin(IV) sulfide is a compound with the formula. The compound crystallizes in the cadmium iodide motif, with the Sn(IV) situated in "octahedral holes' defined by six sulfide centers. It occurs naturally as the rare mineral berndtite. It is useful as semiconductor material with band gap 2.2 eV.

Reactions

The compound precipitates as a brown solid upon the addition of to solutions of tin(IV) species. This reaction is reversed at low pH. Crystalline has a bronze color and is used in decorative coating where it is known as mosaic gold. The material also reacts with sulfide salts to give a series of thiostannates with the formula. A simplified equation for this depolymerization reaction is

Applications

Tin (IV) sulfide has various uses in electrochemistry. It can be used in anodes of lithium-ion batteries, where an intercalation process occurs to form Li2S. It can also be used in a similar way in electrodes of supercapacitors, which can be used as alternative source of energy storage. SnS2 has also been identified as a potential component of thermoelectric devices, which convert thermal energy to electrical energy. In one example, this property was made possible by forming a composite of SnS2 with multiwalled carbon nanotubes. SnS2 can also be used in wastewater treatment. Forming a membrane with SnS2 and carbon nanofibers can potentially allow for the reduction of certain impurities in water, an example of which is hexavalent chromium. In general, SnS2 is useful as a semiconductor and can be purchased in powder form for experimental purposes.