A new organic polymer as positive electrode material is presented. Poly(2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone-3,6-methylene) (PDBM) has oxocarbon cycles which are part of the polymer backbone and exhibit redox properties. Composite materials with acetylene black were investigated as positive electrodes for rechargeable lithium batteries. A specific capacity of 150 mAh g(-1) was reached with 40% acetylene black. The composite electrodes showed moderately good cyclability with less than 10% degradation in the first 100 cycles. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.