Interfacial chemistry of anode/electrolyte interface for rechargeable magnesium batteries

•The key Mg/electrolyte interfacial issues in RMBs are proposed.•Advanced strategies for optimizing Mg/electrolyte interphase are summarized.•The perspectives for designing an idea Mg/electrolyte interface are provided. Rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs), as a low-cost, high-safety and high-energy storage technology, have attracted tremendous attention in large-scale energy storage applications. However, the key anode/electrolyte interfacial issues, including surface passivation, uneven Mg plating/stripping, and pulverization after cycling still result in a large overpotential, short cycling life, poor power density, and possible safety hazards of cells, severely impeding the commercial development of RMBs. In this review, a concise overview of recently advanced strategies to address these anode/electroyte interfacial issues is systematically classified and summarized. The design of magnesiophilic substrates, construction of artificial SEI layers, and modification of electrolyte are important and effective strategies to improve the uniformity/kinetics of Mg plating/stripping and achieve the stable anode/electrolyte interface. The key opportunities and challenges in this field are advisedly put forward, and the insights into future directions for stabilizing Mg metal anodes and the anode/electrolyte interface are highlighted. This review provides important references fordeveloping the high-performance and high-safety RMBs.