The present invention provides a novel carbon material for a electric
double-layer capacitor having characteristics entirely different from
prior art activated carbon. The capacitor develops a capacitance by a
mechanism entirely different from the mechanism of an electric
double-layer capacitor using activated carbon. The novel capacitor has
improved performance including capacitance. The capacitor has polarized
electrodes immersed in an organic electrolyte. The electrodes are made of
a nonporous carbon having crystallites of graphite-like carbon. When a
voltage is applied, electrolyte ions are intercalated between the layers
of the crystallites of the graphite-like carbon together with the
solvent. Thus, electric double layers are formed. Intercalation is
induced by the first cycle of charging. In the second and following
cycles, the capacitance is developed.