Atom-efficient synthesis of a benchmark electrolyte for magnesium battery applications

Scott A Brown; Serena A Cussen; Rhiannon Kennard; Sofia Marchesini; Jethro J Pryke; Annabel Rae; Stuart D Robertson; Rudra N Samajdar; Andrew J Wain

doi:10.1039/d2cc03290b

Atom-efficient synthesis of a benchmark electrolyte for magnesium battery applications

Chem Commun (Camb). 2022 Oct 27;58(86):12070-12073. doi: 10.1039/d2cc03290b.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ WestCHEM, Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G1 1XL, UK. stuart.d.robertson@strath.ac.uk.
² Department of Electromagnetic & Electrochemical Technologies, National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, TW11 0LW, UK. andy.wain@npl.co.uk.
³ Department of Materials Science & Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK. s.cussen@sheffield.ac.uk.

PMID: 36218089
DOI: 10.1039/d2cc03290b

Abstract

The benchmark magnesium electrolyte, [Mg₂Cl₃]⁺ [AlPh₄]^-, can be prepared in a 100% atom-economic fashion by a ligand exchange reaction between AlCl₃ and two molar equivalents of MgPh₂. NMR and vibrational spectroscopy indicate that the reported approach results in a simpler ionic composition than the more widely adopted synthesis route of combining PhMgCl with AlCl₃. Electrochemical performance has been validated by polarisation tests and cyclic voltammetry, which demonstrate excellent stability of electrolytes produced via this atom-efficient approach.