Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a pyrolytic graphite with high crystallinity comprising the deposition of graphite directly onto a catalytic substrate by thermal decomposition of a carbon-containing material at low temperatures. An electrode with graphite as an active material and an electrode substrate as a current collector unified, said graphite being pyrolytic graphite that is deposited on a metal electrode substrate with catalytic properties so as to cover said metal electrode substrate by the method. A battery has a pair of positive and negative electrodes, at least one of which is made of graphite as its electrode active material.

Abstract: An electrode comprising as the main component carbon materials that have a layer structure more disordered than graphite and have hexagonal net faces with a selective orientation. Using said electrode, a secondary battery with a nonaqueous electrolytic solution is manufactured, which comprises a positive electrode, a nonaqueous electrolytic solution, and a negative electrode that has carbon materials as the active substances that can form an electrochemically reversible compound with a light-weight metal element, wherein said positive electrode is made such that its capacity for being charged or discharged is greater than that of said negative electrode.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for converting between heat energy and electric energy which is characterized in that a carbon intercalation compound is employed as a thermoelectric material by utilizing a temperature difference in a direction perpendicular to the structure of carbon layers, or a method for producing a light-heat converting material which is characterized in that a thin metallic layer like a translucent mirror is caused to adhere to the inner surface of a light transmissive hollow tube by pyrolytically decomposing at a temperature approximately below 1000.degree. C., with hydrocarbons being introduced into the hollow tube at the rate of a predetermined amount per hour.