A stable electrolyte makes a nonaqueous LiO2 battery truly rechargeableElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nj00461a

As a result of their ultra-high specific energy and potential use in electric vehicles and grid energy storage, rechargeable nonaqueous lithiumair (LiO 2 ) batteries are becoming more and more popular among academia, corporations, and research institutes. Unfortunately, the cycle numbers of nonaqueous rechargeable LiO 2 batteries are seriously restricted by the electrolyte. To deal with this problem, a novel LiO 2 battery that contains a sulfolane-based electrolyte is shown. Even though it only has a simple structure, it still exhibits amazing performance at different air temperatures (a valid discharge specific capacity of 1000 mA h g 1 is obtained after 110 cycles at air temperatures between 17 C and 29 C). This kind of LiO 2 battery inspires us to build lithiumair batteries with true rechargeability. A sulfolane-based lithiumoxygen battery can perform more than one hundred cycles.