Lithium air secondary battery

A rechargeable lithium-air battery comprising:

• an air electrode comprising carbon;
• a negative electrode comprising metallic lithium or a lithium-containing substance;
• and
• an electrolyte in contact with the air electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the electrolyte comprises a salen-based metal complex and a quinone,
• wherein the salen-based metal complex comprises at least one of (R,R)-(−)-N,N′-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediaminochromium(III) chloride, (R,R)-(−)-N,N′-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediaminomanganese(III) chloride, (R,R)-(−)-N,N′-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediaminoiron(III) chloride, or (R,R)-(−)-N,N′-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediaminocobalt(II).