Abstract: An electrode material made of a carbonaceous material that is obtained by the pyrolysis of an organic compound capable of forming the graphite structure is disclosed. This carbonaceous material is such that the spacing of (002) planes, d002, is at least 3.37 .ANG. and thecrystallite size in the direction of c axis, Lc, is not more than 220 .ANG., as determined by X-ray wide-angle diffractiometry, and the line width .DELTA.Hpp between peaks in the first differential of the absorption spectrum of electron spin resonance is at least 10 gauss. The electrode material made of such carbonaceous material is capable of providing a stable secondary battery that produces high electromotive force and which has high energy density.