The electrochemical performance of one-dimensional porous La0.5Sr0.5CoO2.91 nanotubes as a cathode catalyst for rechargeable nonaqueous lithium-oxygen (Li-O-2) batteries is reported here for the first time. In this study, one-dimensional porous La0.5Sr0.5CoO2.91 nanotubes were prepared by a simple and efficient electrospinning technique. These materials displayed an initial discharge capacity of 7205 mAh g(-1) with a plateau at around 2.66 V at a current density of 100 mA g(-1). It was found that the La0.5Sr0.5CoO2.91 nanotubes promoted both oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions in alkaline media and a nonaqueous electrolyte, thereby improving the energy and coulombic efficiency of the Li-O-2 batteries. The cyclability was maintained for 85 cycles without any sharp decay under a limited discharge depth of 1000 mAh g(-1), suggesting that such a bifunctional electrocatalyst is a promising candidate for the oxygen electrode in Li-O-2 batteries. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.