Magnesium-rare earth intermetallic compounds for high performance high power aqueous Magnesium-Air batteries

Magnesium alloys are light structural materials and promising anode candidates for Mg-air batteries. However, application of Mg-air batteries is limited by poor performance at large current density and severe H2 generation side reactions. In this study, we pioneered magnesium-rare earth Mg3RE (RE=La, Ce, Pr and Nd) intermetallic compounds as anodes to provide higher power density and more stable discharge performance. Especially, Mg3Pr alloy exhibits high discharge voltage of 0.91 V and peak power density of 54.4 mW cm−2 at 60 mA cm−2 with anodic efficiency of 60%, far better than other Mg alloys. We reveal an activation mechanism of Mg3RE-based anodes during discharge, which significantly accelerates mass transfer process as well as enhances discharge activity. The results improve the performance of high-power Mg-air batteries and promote the value-added application of abundant rare earth elements such as Ce and La.