In this paper, we reported for the first time magnesium electrodeposition and dissolution processes in the ionic liquid of BMIMBF4 with 1 M Mg(CF3SO3)(2) at room temperature. Our study found that complete electrochemical reoxidation of the electrodeposited magnesium film was feasible only on Ag substrate, comparing with the Pt, Ni, and stainless-steel. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) results showed that magnesium was found in the deposited film and the deposits were dense. The electrodeposition of magnesium on Ag substrate in the ionic liquid was considered to be a reversible process by cyclic voltammetry. Plots of peak current versus the square root of the scan rate were found to be linear, which indicates that the mass-transport process of electroactive species was mainly diffusion controlled. The diffusion coefficient D values of electroactive species were calculated from cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry, respectively. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.