title: Comment on "Cycling Li-O₂ batteries via LiOH formation and decomposition".
abstract: Based on a simple thermodynamic analysis, we show that iodide-mediated electrochemical decomposition of lithium hydroxide (LiOH) likely occurs through a different mechanism than that proposed by Liu et al (Research Article, 30 October 2015, p. 530). The mismatch in thermodynamic potentials for iodide/triiodide (I(-)/I3 (-)) redox and O2 evolution from LiOH implies a different active iodine/oxygen electrochemistry on battery charge. It is therefore possible that the system described in Liu et al may not form the basis for a rechargeable lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) battery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. venkvis@cmu.edu.
authors.forename: Venkatasubramanian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Viswanathan
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Vikram
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pande
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: SUNCAT, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
authors.forename: Alan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Luntz
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley and Energy Storage and Distributed Resources Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: McCloskey
authors.affiliation: Liox Power Inc., 129 North Hill Avenue, Suite 103, Pasadena, CA 91106, USA.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Addison