Abstract: Rechargable battery with a conjugated backbone polymer anode which has been coated, when in the reduced state, by contact with a monomer with a reactive oxirane group. Reduced polyacetylene anodes, after reaction with ethylene oxide, offer improved stability to solvents.

Abstract: Batteries are disclosed with electrodes, especially cathodes, having a conjugated backbone polymer such as polyacetylene as electroactive material and a coating. The coating is formed by reaction between the oxidized polymer and a pyrrole, thiophene, azulene, furan or aniline compound.

Abstract: Conjugated backbone polymer electrodes such as polyacetylene anodes are coated with the reaction product of the reduced polymer with a sultone or sulfonate. Such coating may have occurred by using a sultone such as propane sultone in the electrolyte of a battery with such an anode, or in electrode preparation. The coating improves the stability of the electrode, especially when the polymer is highly reduced during battery use, whether the sultone remains as all or part of the electrolyte, or the sultone is replaced by a solvent such as propylene carbonate in the electrolyte for the battery containing coated electrode.