Reactivity of Carbon in Lithium–Oxygen Battery Positive Electrodes Daniil M. Itkis Dmitry A. Semenenko Elmar Yu. Kataev Alina I. Belova Vera S. Neudachina Anna P. Sirotina Michael Hävecker Detre Teschner Axel Knop-Gericke Pavel Dudin Alexei Barinov Eugene A. Goodilin Yang Shao-Horn Lada V. Yashina 10.1021/nl4021649.s001 https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Reactivity_of_Carbon_in_Lithium_Oxygen_Battery_Positive_Electrodes/2368249 Unfortunately, the practical applications of Li–O<sub>2</sub> batteries are impeded by poor rechargeability. Here, for the first time we show that superoxide radicals generated at the cathode during discharge react with carbon that contains activated double bonds or aromatics to form epoxy groups and carbonates, which limits the rechargeability of Li–O<sub>2</sub> cells. Carbon materials with a low amount of functional groups and defects demonstrate better stability thus keeping the carbon will-o’-the-wisp lit for lithium–air batteries. 2013-10-09 00:00:00 carbon materials rechargeability Li superoxide radicals batterie