3D magnesium battery and method of making the same

A three-dimensional (3-D) magnesium voltaic cell, comprising:

• a magnesium anode, comprising magnesium metal when at least partially charged;
• a continuous protective layer contacting the magnesium anode on at least two opposing surfaces to form a protected anode, the continuous protective layer being electrically insulative, ionically conductive, and contacting the magnesium anode where an anode current collector is not present;
• and
• a continuous cathode layer contacting the continuous protective layer of the protected anode on at least two opposing surfaces, the continuous cathode layer comprising:
• a reversible active material storage component;
• an electronic conductor;
• and
• an ionic conductor, wherein the continuous protective layer has ionic conductivity greater than 0.01 S/cm and electric conductivity less than 10−8 S/cm.

A three-dimensional (3-D) magnesium voltaic cell, comprising:

• a magnesium anode, comprising magnesium metal when at least partially charged;
• a continuous protective layer contacting the magnesium anode on at least two opposing surfaces to form a protected anode, the continuous protective layer being electrically insulative, ionically conductive, and contacting the magnesium anode where an anode current collector is not present;
• and
• a continuous cathode layer contacting the continuous protective layer of the protected anode on at least two opposing surfaces, the continuous cathode layer comprising:
• a reversible active material storage component;
• an electronic conductor;
• and
• an ionic conductor comprising an electrolyte for conducting a non-magnesium active cation.