Synchrotron X-ray Spectroscopic Investigations of In-Situ-Formed Alloy Anodes for Magnesium Batteries

Magnesium batteries present high volumetric energy density and dendrite-free deposition of Mg, drawing wide attention in energy-storage devices. However, their further development remains stagnated due to relevant interfacial issues between the Mg anode and the electrolyte and sluggish solid-state diffusion kinetics of Mg2+ ions. Herein, an in situ conversion chemistry to construct a nanostructured Bi anode from bismuth selenide driven by Li+ is proposed. Through the combination of operando synchrotron X-ray diffraction, ex situ synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and comprehensive electrochemical tests, it is demonstrated that the nanosize of the in-situ-formed Bi crystals contributes to the fast Mg2+ diffusion kinetics and highly efficient Mg-Bi alloingy/de-alloying. The resultant Bi anodes exhibit superior long-term cycling stability with over 600 cycles under a high current density of 1.0 A g(-1). This work provides a new approach to construct alloy anode and paves the way for exploring novel electrode materials for magnesium batteries.