Phase-field simulation of magnesium-metal anode interface growth in different electrolytes during electrodeposition

Abstract

Various types of Mg electrolytes have emerged with the deepening and development of research on Rechargeable Magnesium-Metal Batteries. In order to assess the potential of these electrolytes to inhibit the growth of Mg dendrites, we apply a Mg-electrodeposition phase-field model with surface energy anisotropy to simulate the interface growth processes of Mg-metal anodes in different electrolytes during electrodeposition. The results show that the conductivity and Mg-ion diffusivity of the Mg electrolyte are key factors affecting the interface growth, with the diffusivity having a particularly significant effect. In the designed 1.0 M MgX/THF electrolyte with an applied overpotential of −0.30 V, by profoundly analyzing the fluctuation of the interface contour, we find that when the diffusivity reaches 1.4 × 10−10 m2/s, the Mg-metal anode interface can achieve stable growth.