Dual‐Functioning Molecular Carrier of Superoxide Radicals for Stable and Efficient Lithium–Oxygen Batteries

Abstract Low round‐trip efficiency and poor cycle stability remain the major challenges associated with lithium–oxygen (Li–O 2 ) batteries. These issues are primarily triggered by or correlated to the radical species produced during the operation of Li–O 2 cells, which lead to significant deterioration of the electrolytes and air electrodes. Regulation of the reactivity of these radical species would thus open up opportunities to suppress such side reactions. Herein, a dual‐functioning molecule that is capable of mitigating the reactivity of radical species produced in a Li–O 2 cell by reversibly forming stable intermediate complex during both the discharge and charge processes is introduced. Specifically, 5,5‐dimethyl‐1‐pyrroline N‐oxide (DMPO) is exploited, which has been widely used as a chemical agent to detect oxygen radicals, to induce the reversible formation of an intermediate co…