The invention provides an anode capable of relaxing stress due to
expansion and shrinkage of an anode active material layer associated with
charge and discharge, or an anode capable of reducing structural
destruction of the anode active material layer and reactivity between the
anode active material layer and an electrolyte associated with charge and
discharge, and a battery using it. The anode active material layer
contains an element capable of forming an alloy with Li, for example, at
least one from the group consisting of simple substances, alloys, and
compounds of Si or Ge. An interlayer containing a material having
superelasticity or shape-memory effect is provided between an anode
current collector and the anode active material layer. Otherwise, the
anode current collector is made of the material having superelasticity or
shape-memory effect. Otherwise, a thin film layer containing the material
having superelasticity or shape-memory effect is formed on the anode
active material layer.