Rechargeable battery with pure magnesium metal as anode and electrolytically fluorinated natural graphite cathode with gelatinized ionic liquid based electrolyte is developed. The self assembled gel electrolyte is beneficial in enhancing the cell performance by improving the reversibility of the electrodes. The fluorinated natural graphite facilitates Mg intercalation and de-intercalation. The specific capacity of the cell is 100 inAhg(-1), average discharge voltage is 1.6 Vat constant current discharge of 0.1 mAcm(-2). (C) 2014 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.