A non-aqueous secondary cell having a positive electrode, an electrolytic solution which contains an organic solvent, and a negative electrode which is made of a carbon material having a ratio of I.sub.O to I.sub.C at least 2, where I.sub.O is a peak intensity of oxygen atoms around 530-540 eV and I.sub.C is a peak intensity of carbon atoms around 285 eV in a photoelectron spectrum of an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy under conditions of 12 kV and 10 mA, which cell has a small retention, a large capacity, and safety against ignition.