An electrode comprising as the main component carbon materials that have a layer structure more disordered than graphite and have hexagonal net faces with a selective orientation. Using said electrode, a secondary battery with a nonaqueous electrolytic solution is manufactured, which comprises a positive electrode, a nonaqueous electrolytic solution, and a negative electrode that has carbon materials as the active substances that can form an electrochemically reversible compound with a light-weight metal element, wherein said positive electrode is made such that its capacity for being charged or discharged is greater than that of said negative electrode.