This invention provides methods and materials for the manufacture of lithium ion rechargeable battery electrodes comprising fullerene compounds which have not been exposed to oxygen. Fullerene compounds are intercalated into carbonaceous materials to form electrodes having superior intercalation/deintercalation properties. Fullerene monomers, such as C.sub.60, C.sub.70, C.sub.74, C.sub.76, C.sub.78, C.sub.80, C.sub.84 and C.sub.80 100 and fluorinated derivatives thereof, are useful in the methods and materials of this invention. Materials incorporating C.sub.74 are particularly preferred. The invention also provides fullerene polymer materials useful for lithium ion electrodes with greatly improved electrochemical properties.