Issue 3, 2020

Mapping mechanisms and growth regimes of magnesium electrodeposition at high current densities

Abstract

The utilization of metallic anodes holds promise for unlocking high gravimetric and volumetric energy densities and is pivotal to the adoption of ‘beyond Li’ battery chemistries. Much of the promise of magnesium batteries stems from claims regarding their lower predilection for dendrite growth. Whilst considerable effort has been invested in the design of novel electrolytes and cathodes, detailed studies of Mg plating are scarce. Using galvanostatic electrodeposition of metallic Mg from Grignard reagents in symmetric Mg–Mg cells, we establish a phase map characterized by disparate morphologies spanning the range from fractal aggregates of 2D nanoplatelets to highly anisotropic dendrites with singular growth fronts and nanowires entangled in the form of mats. The effects of electrolyte concentration, applied current density, and coordinating ligands have been explored. The study demonstrates a complex range of electrodeposited morphologies including canonical dendrites with shear moduli conducive to penetration through typical polymeric separators. We further demonstrate a strategy for mitigating Mg dendrite formation based on the addition of molecular Lewis bases that promote nanowire growth through selective surface coordination.

Graphical abstract: Mapping mechanisms and growth regimes of magnesium electrodeposition at high current densities

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
28 Aug 2019
Accepted
25 Nov 2019
First published
25 Nov 2019

Mater. Horiz., 2020,7, 843-854

Author version available

Mapping mechanisms and growth regimes of magnesium electrodeposition at high current densities

R. Davidson, A. Verma, D. Santos, F. Hao, C. D. Fincher, D. Zhao, V. Attari, P. Schofield, J. Van Buskirk, A. Fraticelli-Cartagena, T. E. G. Alivio, R. Arroyave, K. Xie, M. Pharr, P. P. Mukherjee and S. Banerjee, Mater. Horiz., 2020, 7, 843 DOI: 10.1039/C9MH01367A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements