Electrode materials and processes for their preparation

An electrode material comprising particles of an inorganic electrochemically active material and a compound of any one of Formulae I to IV:

• wherein,
• R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 are each independently selected from a hydrogen atom, halogens alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, aryl groups, —CN, —NO2, —SO2OM2, —OP(O)(OM2)2, —P(O)(OM2)2, —C(O)OM2, wherein M2 is a cation of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, —OC(O)alkyl groups, —SO2NH2, —SO2NHalkyl groups, and —SO2N(alkyl)2, groups;
• and
• X is, independently in each occurrence, selected from O, S, NH, NR9, and PH,
• wherein R9 is selected from natural or synthetic carbohydrate and protective groups;
• and
• “Sugar” denotes a natural or synthetic carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides;
• and
• wherein:
• i. a, c and e are single bonds, b and d are double bonds, and M1 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 wherein the ratio of cation to the rest of the compound of Formula I provides electroneutrality;
• or
• ii. a, c and e are double bonds, b and d are single bonds, and M1 is absent;
• or an oxime thereof (i.e. where ═OM1 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 thereof, or a carbohydrate which is a monosaccharide, disaccharide, oligosaccharide or a polysaccharide, complex or conjugate thereof.