Determining Factor on the Polarization Behavior of Magnesium Deposition for Magnesium Battery Anode.

To clarify the origin of the polarization of magnesium deposition/dissolution reactions, we combined electrochemical measurement, soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy ( SXAS), Raman, and density functional theory (DFT) techniques to three different electrolytes: magnesium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (Mg(TFSA))/triglyme, magnesium borohydride (Mg(BH))/tetrahydrofuran (THF), and Mg(TFSA)/2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF). Cyclic voltammetry revealed that magnesium deposition/dissolution reactions occur in Mg(TFSA)/triglyme and Mg(BH)/THF, while the reactions do not occur in Mg(TFSA)/2-MeTHF. Raman spectroscopy shows that the [TFSA] in the Mg(TFSA)/triglyme electrolyte largely does not coordinate to the magnesium ions, while all of the [TFSA] in Mg(TFSA)/2-MeTHF and [BH] in Mg(BH)/THF coordinate to the magnesium ions.