Further, in the case of a positive electrode active material containing Ni, the decomposition of the non-aqueous solvent is caused due to the catalytic action of Ni on the positive electrode surface, and accordingly the resistance of the battery tends to be increased. In particular, the electrochemical characteristics in a high temperature environment tend to be degraded; however, the lithium secondary battery according to the present invention preferably can suppress the degradation of these electrochemical characteristics. In particular, the above-described effect is preferably remarkable in the case where a positive electrode active material is used in which the atomic concentration proportion of Ni in relation to the atomic concentrations of all the transition metal elements in the positive electrode active material exceeds 10 atomic %, the atomic concentration proportion of Ni being further preferably 20 atomic % or more, and particularly preferably 30 atomic % or more. Suitable specific examples of such a positive electrode active material include LiCo1/3Ni1/3Mn1/3O2, LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2, LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2, and LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2.
Besides, as the positive electrode for a lithium primary battery, for example, metal oxides such as MnO2, sulfur compounds such as SOCl2, and a fluorinated carbon (fluorinated graphite) represented by a general formula (CFx)n may be mentioned. Among these, for example, MnO2 and the fluorinated graphite are preferable.