Enabling Mg metal anodes rechargeable in conventional electrolytes by fast ionic transport interphase

Abstract Rechargeable magnesium batteries have received extensive attention as the Mg anodes possess twice the volumetric capacity of their lithium counterparts and are dendrite-free. However, Mg anodes suffer from surface passivation film in most glyme-based conventional electrolytes, leading to irreversible plating/stripping behavior of Mg. Here we report a facile and safe method to obtain a modified Mg metal anode with a Sn-based artificial layer via ion-exchange and alloying reactions. In the artificial coating layer, Mg2Sn alloy composites offer a channel for fast ion transport and insulating MgCl2/SnCl2 bestows the necessary potential gradient to prevent deposition on the surface. Significant improved ion conductivity of the solid electrolyte interfaces and decreased overpotential of Mg symmetric cells in Mg(TFSI)2/DME electrolyte are obtained. The coated Mg anodes can sustain a stable plating/stripping process over 4000 cycles at a high current density of 6 mA cm−2. This finding provides an avenue to facilitate fast ion diffusion kinetics of Mg metal anodes in conventional electrolytes.