Efficient　electrocatalyst　for　oxygen　reduction　reaction　(ORR)　and　oxygen　evolution　reaction　(OER)　is　the　most　critical　factor　to　influence　the　performance　of　lithium-air　batteries.　We　present　La0.8Sr0.2MnO3　(LSM)　perovskite　nanorods　as　high　active　electrocatalyst　fabricated　via　a　soft　template　method　for　lithium-air　batteries.　The　as-prepared　LSM　nanorods　are　microporous　with　numerous　defects　and　large　surface　area　(20.6　m(2)　g(-1)),　beneficial　to　the　ORR　and　OER　in　the　discharge　and　charge　processes,　respectively.　Lithium-air　batteries　based　on　the　microporous　LSM　nanorods　electrocatalysts　show　enhanced　electrochemical　performances,　including　high　first　discharge　specific　capacity　(6890　mAh　g((electrode))(-1)　at　200　mA　g(-1)),　low　overpotential,　good　rate　capability　(up　to　400　mA　g(-1)),　and　cycle　stability　(only　1.1%　voltage　loss　after　30　circles　of　specific　capacity　limit　of　1000　mAh　g(-1)　tested　at　200　mA　g(-1)).　The　improved　performance　might　be　due　to　the　synergistic　effect　of　the　unique　microporous　and　one-dimensional　structure　and　numerous　defects　of　the　prepared　LSM　catalyst.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.