Structural Effects of Magnesium Dialkoxides as Precursors for Magnesium-Ion Electrolytes

Abstract

A challenge for magnesium ion battery research is the development of electrolytes that are capable of reversible magnesium electrodeposition through multiple cycles.Magnesium alkoxide chlorides and aryloxide chlorides are known magnesium ion electrolytes when used in conjunction with aluminum chloride. Herein we report the effects of structural variation in several dialkoxy and diaryloxy magnesium complex aggregates with aluminum chloride, Mg(OR)2:AlCl3 (R = iPr, t-Bu, phenyl), on electrochemical characteristics of their solutions and on compositions of the magnesium-containing deposits they yield. We also report the synthesis of a magnesium phenoxide-based electrolyte directly from magnesium metal.