Catalytic Disproportionation of the Superoxide Intermediate from Electrochemical O 2 Reduction in Nonaqueous Electrolytes

Abstract Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (TPFPB) was found to be an efficient catalyst for rapid superoxide (O 2 − ) disproportionation. The kinetics for the catalytic disproportionation reaction is much faster than the reaction between O 2 − and propylene carbonate. Therefore, the negative impact of the reaction between the electrolyte and O 2 − produced by the O 2 reduction is minimized. The cathodic current for O 2 reduction can be doubled in the presence of TPFPB. The high reduction current resulted from the pseudo two‐electron O 2 ‐reduction reaction due to the replenishment of O 2 at the electrode surface. This discovery could lead to a new avenue for the development of high‐capacity, high‐rate, rechargeable Li–air batteries.