An electrode material comprising particles of an electrochemically active material and a compound of any one of Formulae I to IV: wherein, R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6, R 7, and R 8 are each independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a group selected from halogen (e.g. F), optionally halogenated alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl, -CN, -NO 2, -SO 2 OM 2, -OP (OM 2) 2, -P (OM 2) 2, or -C OM 2, wherein M 2 is a cation of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, or a -OC alkyl, - SO 2 NH 2, -SO 2 NHalkyl, or -SO 2 N(alkyl) 2, group; and X is, independently in each occurrence, selected from O, S, NH, NR 9, and PH, wherein R 9 is selected from natural or synthetic carbohydrate and protective groups, for instance an amine protective group such as trifluoroacetamide, t-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc), benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz), 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc), benzyl (Bn), and the like; sugar is a natural or synthetic carbohydrate (e.g. mono or disaccharide, oligo and polysaccharides, e,g, β-D-glucose or cellulose); and wherein: i. a, c and e are single bonds, b and d are double bonds, and M 1 is H or a cation of an alkali or alkaline earth metal thereby forming a salt with the oxygen atom it is linked to negatively charged (e.g. M 1 is Li+, Na+, K+, Ca 2+, or Mg 2+) wherein the ratio of cation to the rest of the compound of Formula I provides electroneutrality (e.g. M 1 may be Li+ or (Mg 2+) 1⁄2); or ii. a, c and e are double bonds, b and d are single bonds, and M 1 is absent; or an oxime thereof (i.e. where =OM 1 is replaced with =NOH in Formulae I, II or III), a compound of Formula IV where the Sugar is replaced by a hydrogen atom, a geometric isomer (e.g. cis or trans) thereof, or a carbohydrate (mono or disaccharide, oligo and polysaccharides, e,g, β-D-glucose or cellulose) complex or conjugate thereof, wherein the particles of the electrochemically active material are inorganic particles. R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6, R 7, and R 8 are each independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a group selected from halogen (e.g. F), optionally halogenated alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl, -CN, -NO 2, -SO 2 OM 2, -OP (OM 2) 2, -P (OM 2) 2, or -C OM 2, wherein M 2 is a cation of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, or a -OC alkyl, - SO 2 NH 2, -SO 2 NHalkyl, or -SO 2 N(alkyl) 2, group; and X is, independently in each occurrence, selected from O, S, NH, NR 9, and PH, wherein R 9 is selected from natural or synthetic carbohydrate and protective groups, for instance an amine protective group such as trifluoroacetamide, t-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc), benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz), 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc), benzyl (Bn), and the like; sugar is a natural or synthetic carbohydrate (e.g. mono or disaccharide, oligo and polysaccharides, e,g, β-D-glucose or cellulose); and wherein: i. a, c and e are single bonds, b and d are double bonds, and M 1 is H or a cation of an alkali or alkaline earth metal thereby forming a salt with the oxygen atom it is linked to negatively charged (e.g. M 1 is Li+, Na+, K+, Ca 2+, or Mg 2+) wherein the ratio of cation to the rest of the compound of Formula I provides electroneutrality (e.g. M 1 may be Li+ or (Mg 2+) 1⁄2); or ii. a, c and e are double bonds, b and d are single bonds, and M 1 is absent; i. a, c and e are single bonds, b and d are double bonds, and M 1 is H or a cation of an alkali or alkaline earth metal thereby forming a salt with the oxygen atom it is linked to negatively charged (e.g. M 1 is Li+, Na+, K+, Ca 2+, or Mg 2+) wherein the ratio of cation to the rest of the compound of Formula I provides electroneutrality (e.g. M 1 may be Li+ or (Mg 2+) 1⁄2); or ii. a, c and e are double bonds, b and d are single bonds, and M 1 is absent; or an oxime thereof (i.e. where =OM 1 is replaced with =NOH in Formulae I, II or III), a compound of Formula IV where the Sugar is replaced by a hydrogen atom, a geometric isomer (e.g. cis or trans) thereof, or a carbohydrate (mono or disaccharide, oligo and polysaccharides, e,g, β-D-glucose or cellulose) complex or conjugate thereof, wherein the particles of the electrochemically active material are inorganic particles.