Transaction Processing Versus Decision Support: Understanding the Benefits from ERP

There are provided modified and rounded graphite particles derived from scaly natural graphite particles by modification so as to bring their form close to a spherical form and satisfying all the following requirements (a) to (c): (a) that the degree of circularity should be not less than 0.86; (b) that, upon microscopic observation, the broken-out section should show a cabbage-like appearance with graphite slices taking various directions; and (c) that, upon X ray diffraction, the peak intensity ratio (Ih110/Ih002) between the 002 face (parallel to graphite layers) and 110 face (perpendicular to graphite layers), which serves as an index of the randomness of orientation, should be not less than 0.0050. They retain good qualities of the raw material scaly natural graphite particles and are additionally unique in structure and characteristics. A method of producing such modified particles is also provided. Further provided are secondary cells or batteries in which the modified particles showing good slurry characteristics are used as an electrode material and with which the decrease in discharge capacity is small even at high discharge current values.