A pore retention structure has a concept distinct from the pore forming agent, and is not a plate and active material particles representing an average particle diameter of at least ? or less of the plate graphite, and is disposed to be dispersed between plate particles so that the plate graphite is completely stuck surface to surface, and thus, when porosity is small, the pore retention structure may refer to an active material which is disposed between plate graphite particles and the surface of the particles and serves to leave a space between surfaces. As a specific example any well-known negative electrode active material such as hard carbon, soft carbon, granulated artificial graphite, artificial graphite in the form of amorphous particles, mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB), spherical natural graphite, and Li4Ti5O12 may be used.
As described above, even when the plate graphite is used as a particulate electrode active material plate graphites are packed by press molding, thereby producing a molded body having an orientation in a particle unit. Here, a carbon precursor (in the form of composite particles or an additive separate from the active material) is used together with the plate graphite, thereby improving molding strength, of course.