Magnesium ion conducting, room temperature molten electrolytes

Room temperature, magnesium ion conducting binary molten electrolyte consisting of acetamide and magnesium perchlorate has been prepared and characterized. The molten liquid is very stable and shows high ionic conductivity, of the order of several mS cm(-1) at 25 degrees C with other favourable physicochemical properties. Vibrational spectroscopic studies reveal that the free ion concentration is higher than that of ion pairs and aggregates in the melt. The electrochemical reversibility of magnesium deposition and dissolution is demonstrated using voltammetry and impedance studies. Preliminary studies on rechargeable batteries assembled using gamma-MnO2 and Mg metal as the electrodes together with the molten electrolyte show high discharge capacity.