There is provided a secondary battery comprising a positive and a negative electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode is made by dipping an electrode comprising a positive active material such as LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4, LiMnO.sub.2, LiCoO.sub.2, LiNiO.sub.2, LiFeO.sub.2 or .gamma.LiV.sub.2 O.sub.5, in a solution containing butyllithium, phenyllithium, or naphthyllithium. The negative electrode of the battery absorbs and desorbs lithium by charging and discharging, and the nonaqueous electrolyte contains a lithium salt. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a secondary battery comprising a nonaqueous electrolyte. The method comprises the steps of preparing an electrode group containing a positive electrode of LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4, LiMnO.sub.2, LiCoO.sub.2, LiNiO.sub.2, LiFeO.sub.2 or .gamma.-LiV.sub.2 O.sub.5, as the active material, and a negative electrode which absorbs and desorbs lithium by charging and discharging, with a separator therebetween. The group is placed in a battery case, and to the case is added a solution containing butyllithium etc. The solution is removed and an organic electrolyte as a nonaqueous electrolyte is added to the battery case.