A new polymeric gel electrolyte system conducting magnesium ion has been proposed. The gel electrolytes consisted of poly(ethylene oxide)-modified polymethacrylate (PEO-PMA) dissolving ionic liquid mixed with magnesium salt, Mg[(CF3SO2)(2)N](2). The polymeric gel films were self-standing, transparent and flexible with enough mechanical strength. The ionic conductance and the electrochemical properties of the gel films were investigated. Thermal analysis results showed that the polymeric gel is homogeneous and amorphous over a wide temperature range. The highest conductivity, 1.1 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at room temperature (20degreesC), was obtained for the polymeric gel containing 50 wt.% of the ionic liquid in which the content of the magnesium salt was 20 mol%. The dc polarization of a Pt/Mg cell using the polymeric gel electrolyte proved that the magnesium ion (Mg2+) is mobile in the present polymeric system. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.