Lithium-containing thiostannate spinels for thermal neutron and alpha-particle detection

A neutron or alpha-particle detector comprising:

• a material comprising a lithium-containing thiostannate compound having a three-dimensional cubic spinel structure and the formula:
• Li2M1+xSn3−xS8, where x is 0 or 1 and M is Mg, Fe, Mn, Ni, Ga, In or a combination thereof, or Li1.66CuSn3.33S8;
• a first electrode in electrical communication with the material;
• and
• a second electrode in electrical communication with the material, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to apply an electric field across the material.

A method for detecting neutrons or alpha particles, the method comprising:

• applying an electric field across a lithium-containing thiostannate compound having a three-dimensional cubic spinel structure and the formula:
• Li2M1+xSn3−xS8, where x is 0 or 1 and M is Mg, Fe, Mn, Ni, Ga, In or a combination thereof;
• or Li1.66CuSn3.33S8;
• exposing the lithium-containing thiostannate compound to incident neutrons or alpha particles, wherein the lithium-containing thiostannate compound absorbs incident neutrons or alpha particles, resulting in the generation of an electrical signal;
• and
• detecting the electrical signal.