Status and challenge of Mg battery cathode

Current performance of Mg battery cathode is reviewed. Perspective for research in this field is provided and discussed. Mg battery has recently gathered more and more interest as a high energy density replacement of current Li-ion battery. Significant progress has been made in developing sustainable anode and novel electrolyte. However, the success of Mg battery still high demands the search of cathode material with high energy density, good rate capability, and nice cyclability. This current review focuses on the development of Mg battery cathode in the past 15 years. A detailed review about the performance and limitations of reported cathode material is provided. A perspective for this area is discussed with insights for future research direction. Three important areas that must be explored in this field in near future are suggested: the investigation of high capacity cathode, the study of hybrid ion battery, and deeper understanding about the magnesiation chemistry of the cathode. © 2016, The Materials Research Society.