The quest for green and sustainable energy storage systems has brought about the need for a material system that can satisfy the following requirements; low cost of production, environmental benignity, flexibility, redox stability, renewability and structural diversity. Interestingly, organic compounds of carbonyl functionality have been identified as potential candidates to proffer solutions to the abovementioned challenges. This review therefore discusses various classes of carbonyl compounds as active components in some rechargeable batteries, highlighting their major strengths and drawbacks.