A conductive agent for use in alkaline storage batteries in accordance with one aspect of the present invention contains 0.1 to 10% by weight sodium. This sodium content results from cobalt or a cobalt compound, to which an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide is added and heated to 50 to 200.degree. C. A non-sintered nickel electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries is also proposed. In this electrode, the aforesaid conductive agent in accordance with the present invention is added to a pulverulent active material consisting of grains of nickel hydroxide or grains mainly constituted by nickel hydroxide such that 1 to 20 parts by weight of the conductive agent is added to 100 parts by weight nickel hydroxide contained in the pulverulent active material. Another non-sintered nickel electrode for use in alkaline storage batteries is also proposed. In this electrode, an active material takes the form of composite particles consisting of grains of nickel hydroxide or grains mainly constituted by nickel hydroxide, each of which has a surface formed with an electric conduction layer consisting of a cobalt compound containing 0.1 to 10% by weight sodium.