Polypyrrole conducting polymers with different dopants have been synthesized and applied as the cathode catalyst in Li-O-2 batteries. Polypyrrole polymers exhibited an effective catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction in lithium oxygen batteries. It was discovered that dopant significantly influenced the electrochemical performance of polypyrrole. The polypyrrole doped with Cl- demonstrated higher capacity and more stable cyclability than that doped with ClO4-. Polypyrrole conducting polymers also exhibited higher capacity and better cycling performance than that of carbon black catalysts. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.