Neutron diffraction studies on spinel type Li2ZnCl4

The cation distribution of the spinel type low-temperature polymorph of Li2ZnCl4 was determined by powder neutron diffraction data. The final R was 6.9 %. Li2ZnCl4 is the only spinel type halide with normal distribution of the metal ions (degree of inversion λ = 0, u parameter = 0.2531(5), a = 1034.58(5) pm). The results obtained are discussed with respect to the conductivity of fast ionic conducting spinel type ternary lithium halides.