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A rechargeable non-aqueous Mg-O2 battery based on magnesium peroxide chemistry
Nan Wang1,2, Chunyu Cui3, Runjing Xu1
1College of Smart Materials and Future Energy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Nature Chemistry
|July 3, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a rechargeable magnesium-oxygen (Mg-O2) battery using a tailored electrolyte. This breakthrough addresses poor rechargeability, paving the way for safer, high-energy storage solutions.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Magnesium-oxygen (Mg-O2) batteries offer high specific energy, low cost, and safety.
- Poor rechargeability due to electrolyte limitations and cathode reactions hinders Mg-O2 battery development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a rechargeable non-aqueous Mg-O2 battery with improved cycle life.
- To identify electrolyte strategies that enable reversible Mg-O2 chemistry.
Main Methods:
- Designed a tailored electrolyte with ether solvents of varying chain lengths and a tridentate chelating agent.
- Investigated the Mg2+ solvation environment and its role in cathode reactions.
- Evaluated battery performance, including discharge voltage, overpotential, energy efficiency, and cycle stability.
Main Results:
- A cage-like Mg2+ solvation environment was created, acting as a dynamic microreactor.
- Reversible formation of nanocrystalline magnesium peroxide at the cathode was achieved.
- The battery demonstrated a high initial discharge voltage (~2.0 V), low overpotential (0.35 V), 80% round-trip efficiency, and over 450 stable cycles.
Conclusions:
- A solvation-structure-guided strategy successfully enabled rechargeable Mg-O2 batteries.
- The developed electrolyte design overcomes critical barriers in Mg-O2 battery technology.
- This approach holds promise for advancing other multivalent metal-air battery systems.
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