Electrochemical and structural investigations on solutions of organomagnesium bromide in polymeric ether

The electrolytic behaviour of ethylmagnesium bromide in poly(ethylene oxide ) was investigated. Besides polymeric ether, the electrolyte solution conta ined a small amount of monomeric ether (THF or DEE). Best conductivities we re obtained with an ethylene oxide to Mg ratio of 4. For the electrolyte sy stem EtMgBr-P(EO)(4)-DEE, an electrical conductivity of 0.1 mS cm(-1) at 40 degreesC was found. Using these electrolytes, magnesium can be deposited b y cathodic reduction as well as dissolved by anodic oxidation. For a magnes ium electrode in contact with these electrolytes, an OCV of - 1.9 V (vs. Ag -AgCl) was measured. The kind of monomer ether influences significantly the structure of the electrolyte systems. DSC and XRD measurements of the THF- containing, electrolytes showed a decrease in content of the crystalline PE O phase with increasing content of EtMgBr, which is not the case for the DE E-containing systems. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.