A negative electrode wherein a negative electrode current collector has a
conductive foil including a conductive substrate and a multiplicity of
conductive lumpy projections provided at a surface of the substrate is
provided. The multiplicity of lumpy projections are so disposed that a
plurality of the lumpy projections are aligned substantially in one
direction to form a lumpy projection row and that a plurality of the
lumpy projection rows are arrayed side by side at a predetermined
interval in a direction substantially orthogonal to the one direction.