Electrolyte Engineering with Carboranes for Next-Generation Mg Batteries.

To realize an energy storage transition beyond Li-ion competitive technologies, earth-abundant elements, such as Mg, are needed. Carborane anions are particularly well-suited to realizing magnesium-ion batteries (MIBs), as their inert and weakly coordinating properties beget excellent electrolyte performance. However, utilizing these materials in actual electrochemical cells has been hampered by the reliance on the Mg salts of the commercially available [HCBH] anion, which is not soluble in more weakly binding solvents apart from the higher glymes.

A Carboranyl Electrolyte Enabling Highly Reversible Sodium Metal Anodes via a "Fluorine-Free" SEI.

Realization of practical sodium metal batteries (SMBs) is hindered due to lack of compatible electrolyte components, dendrite propagation, and poor understanding of anodic interphasial chemistries. Chemically robust liquid electrolytes that facilitate both favorable sodium metal deposition and a stable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) are ideal to enable sodium metal and anode-free cells. Herein we present advanced characterization of a novel fluorine-free electrolyte utilizing the [HCB H ] anion.

Comparative Study of Mg(CBH) and Mg(TFSI) at the Magnesium/Electrolyte Interface.

An essential requirement for electrolytes in rechargeable magnesium-ion (Mg-ion) batteries is to enable Mg plating-stripping with low overpotential and high Coulombic efficiency. To date, the influence of the Mg/electrolyte interphase on plating and stripping behaviors is still not well understood. In this study, we investigate the Mg/electrolyte interphase from electrolytes based on two Mg salts with weakly coordinating anions: magnesium monocarborane (Mg(CBH)) and magnesium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Mg(TFSI)).

Teaching an old dog new tricks: new directions in fundamental and applied closo-carborane anion chemistry.

This feature article covers new directions in the fundamental and applied chemistry of the closo-carborane anions [HCB11H11]- and [HCB9H9]-, as well as some related chemistry with the dicarbolide ion [H2C2B9]2-. Specifically the manuscript will focus on summarizing the authors' as well as related novel contributions to the field. The application of such clusters as solution based electolytes for Mg batteries and related materials for ionic liquids will be discussed.