Revealing the catalytic pathway of a quinone-mediated oxygen reduction reaction in aprotic Li-O 2 batteries.

Soluble redox species that facilitate the oxygen reduction reaction by mediating the LiO 2 intermediate and consequently the formation of the Li 2 O 2 have attracted considerable interest for Li-O 2 batteries. Based on extensive radical studies, this work discloses a distinct solution reaction route when a quinone derivative was employed as a redox mediator.