Provided is a secondary battery in which high energy density can be
obtained and charging/discharging cycle characteristic can be improved. A
positive electrode (13) and a negative electrode (15) are stacked with a
separator (16) interposed therebetween, and are enclosed inside an
exterior can (11) to which an electrolyte is injected. The negative
electrode (15) contains a negative electrode material capable of
occluding/releasing lithium in an ionic state. Thereby, lithium metal
precipitates in the negative electrode (15) in a state where the open
circuit voltage is lower than the overcharge voltage. In other words,
lithium is occluded in an ionic state in a negative electrode material
capable of occluding/releasing lithium in the beginning of charging, and
then lithium metal precipitates on the surface of the negative electrode
material thereafter during charging. The amount of precipitation of
lithium metal is preferable to be from 0.05 to 3.0 times, both inclusive,
the ability of charging capacity of the negative electrode material
capable of occluding/releasing lithium. Thereby, a high energy density
and an excellent cycle characteristic can be obtained.