magnesium sulfur, also known as magnesium sulfate heptahydrate or Epsom salt, is a white crystalline substance that is often used in medicine. It has a very low odour, and can be easily absorbed into the body via inhalation or through ingestion.
It is a double salt that contains one Mg2+ cation and one SO42- anion, with two oxygen atoms bonded to each sulfur atom. The total charge on the sulfate anion is -2, and that of the magnesium cation is +2.
Intravenous treatment with magnesium sulfate in pregnant women has been shown to reduce the risk of developing eclampsia (RR, 0.8%; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.69) and the need for intravenous antihypertensive medication by 50% and 75% respectively. In addition, the use of this compound has been associated with a reduction in the need for hospitalization after an exacerbation of asthma.
The reversibility of the Mg metal anode and sulfur cathode in commonly used electrolytes is much higher than for Li73, corresponding to a Coulombic reversibility of up to 99.9%14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and a significantly higher overpotential value in the sulfur cathode than for LSBs10.
Mg polysulfides are more stable than their Li counterparts; however, the solubility of chemically prepared Mg polysulfide species is notably lower in THF, DME, and TEGDME (Fig. 3c) because of their higher electrostatic interaction with the corresponding Mg2+ cations. This electrostatic stability is influenced by the solvent coordination of the cations and enables a stepwise oxidation during charge and discharge in cyclic voltammetry experiments85,86,87,90,91,92.
