Response to Comment on "Cycling Li-O2 batteries via LiOH formation and decomposition".

ABSTRACT

Lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries cycle reversibly with lithium iodide (LiI) additives in dimethoxyethane (DME) to form lithium hydroxide (LiOH). Viswanathan et al. argue that because the standard redox potential of the four-electron (e(-)) reaction, 4OH(-) ↔ 2H2O + O2 + 4e(-), is at 3.34 V versus Li(+)/Li, LiOH cannot be removed by the triiodide ion (I3(-)). However, under nonaqueous conditions, this reaction will occur at a different potential. LiOH also reacts chemically with I3(-) to form IO3(-), further studies being required to determine the relative rates of the two reactions on electrochemical charge.