Amorphous (w) and crystalline (h) SnS2 have been used as active cathode materials in nonaqueous lithium cells. The discharge and charge-discharge cycling properties were galvanostatically measured at different current densities from 0.1 to 1 mA/cm(2). The w-SnS2 phase exhibited superior electrochemical characteristics to those of h-SnS2 phase, as evidenced by the higher Li ion diffusion coefficient, higher specific capacity and energy and better cycling properties. The Li/w-Sns(2) cell can deliver up to 614 Ah . kg(-1) and 1100 Wh . kg(-1) at a potential around 1 V when it is discharged at 0.1 mA . cm(-2) current density. These capacity and energy density values clearly exceeded those of other lithium batteries made of different amorphous transition metal sulfides.