To
clarify the effects of anion species and solvents on the Coulombic
efficiency and polarization of magnesium deposition/dissolution reactions,
the anode/electrolyte interfacial behavior of magnesium tetrakis(hexafluoroisopropyloxy)
borate (Mg[B(HFIP)<sub>4</sub>]<sub>2</sub>) and magnesium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide
(Mg(TFSA)<sub>2</sub>) was investigated and compared in triglyme and
2-methlytetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF). When using triglyme, which has
strong interaction with magnesium ions, decomposition of [B(HFIP)<sub>4</sub>]<sup>−</sup> in Mg[B(HFIP)<sub>4</sub>]<sub>2</sub>/triglyme was hard to occur because of the high reduction stability
of the uncoordinated [B(HFIP)<sub>4</sub>]<sup>−</sup> anion,
resulting in significantly higher Coulombic efficiency and smaller
polarization than Mg(TFSA)<sub>2</sub>/triglyme. When 2-MeTHF was
used as the solvent, magnesium deposition/dissolution reactions occurred
in the Mg[B(HFIP)<sub>4</sub>]<sub>2</sub>/2-MeTHF electrolyte but
not in the Mg[TFSA]<sub>2</sub>/2-MeTHF electrolyte. This is because
the coordinated [B(HFIP)<sub>4</sub>]<sup>−</sup> anion in
Mg[B(HFIP)<sub>4</sub>]<sub>2</sub>/2-MeTHF is stable at the magnesium
deposition potential. However, the reductive stability of the coordinated
[B(HFIP)<sub>4</sub>]<sup>−</sup> anion is inferior to that
of the uncoordinated [B(HFIP)<sub>4</sub>]<sup>−</sup> anion,
resulting in the Mg[B(HFIP)<sub>4</sub>]<sub>2</sub>/2-MeTHF Coulombic
efficiency being lower than that of Mg[B(HFIP)<sub>4</sub>]<sub>2</sub>/triglyme. Our results indicate that solvents that could not be used
with Mg(TFSA)<sub>2</sub> are suitable in weakly coordinating anion
electrolytes, such as Mg[B(HFIP)<sub>4</sub>]<sub>2</sub>. Controlling
the interaction between magnesium ions and anions by selecting suitable
anions and solvents is essential for designing new electrolytes for
magnesium rechargeable batteries.