MgH2　is　regarded　as　a　potential　hydrolysis　material　for　the　hydrogen　generation　due　to　its　high　theoretical　hydrogen　yield,　abundant　source　on　earth　and　environmentally　friendly　hydrolysates.　However,　the　quickly　formed　passive　magnesium　hydroxide　layer　on　the　surface　of　MgH2　will　hinder　its　further　hydrolysis　reaction,　leading　to　sluggish　reaction　kinetics　and　low　H-2　yield.　In　this　paper,　we　explore　the　improvement　of　different　anions　and　cations　in　solutions　for　the　hydrolysis　of　MgH2.　It　is　found　that　the　cations　in　the　solution　promote　the　reaction　rate　of　MgH2　hydrolysis　through　the　hydrolysate-induced　growth　effect,　among　which　the　fastest　hydrogen　yield　can　get　1664　mL/g　within　a　few　minutes　in　the　Fe-2(SO4)(3)　solution.　As　for　the　anions,　it　enables　different　microstructures　of　the　Mg(OH)(2)　hydrolysate　which　give　rise　to　enhanced　water　utilization.　Specially,　for　the　mixed　0.5　M　MgCl2　+　0.05　M　MgSO4　solution,　the　water　utilization　rate　attains　the　optimum　value　of　51.3　%,　much　higher　than　that　of　the　single　MgCl2　or　MgSO4　solutions.　These　findings　are　of　great　significance　for　the　application　of　MgH2　hydrolysis　as　hydrogen　generation.　(C)　2021　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd　on　behalf　of　The　editorial　office　of　Journal　of　Materials　Science　&　Technology.