Powder mixtures of metallic iron and sulfur have been milled in a high
-energy planetary ball mill and the formation of iron sulfides has bee
n studied by x-ray diffraction, Mossbauer spectroscopy, and scanning e
lectron microscopy. For Fe:S ratios of 1:1 and 1:2 the final products
are FeS with the modified NiAs structure and FeS2 (pyrite), respective
ly. No other iron sulfides were formed for any of the Fe:S ratios stud
ied, The FeS phase has been tested as an electrode material in lithium
batteries. (C) 1998 Academic Press.