NOVELTY - The nickel electrode contains active material particles consisting of particle which has high order nickel hydroxide, or composite particle having high order nickel hydroxide as core layer particle provided with surface layer containing high order cobalt compound. 0.01-0.5 wt.% solid solution lithium is formed as simple substance in the active material particle.    USE - For alkali secondary battery (claimed) such as nickel hydride secondary battery and nickel cadmium battery used for hybrid type electric vehicle and power tool.    ADVANTAGE - The alkali secondary battery has high discharge capacitance, small irreversible capacitance and excellent charging and discharging cycle characteristics. The nickel electrode is manufactured at high productivity, and active material particle containing lithium is not eluted even after water washing. The rise in viscosity of active material paste is reduced and variation of active material filling amount is suppressed. The absorption of carbon dioxide gas in atmosphere by the electrode is restrained.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The nickel electrode contains active material particles supported on an electroconductive substrate. The active material particle consists of particle which has high order nickel hydroxide having nickel with oxidation number more than 2 or composite particle having high order nickel hydroxide as core layer particle having surface layer containing high order cobalt compound having cobalt with oxidation number more than 2. 0.01-0.5 wt.% solid solution lithium is formed as simple substance in the active material particle. The active material further contains compound of rare earth element(s) such as holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and/or lutetium, and calcium and/or magnesium. The active material further contains natural polysaccharide such as glucose, mannose and glucuronic acid and natural polysaccharide such as glucose, mannose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) manufacture of nickel electrode; and    (2) alkali secondary battery using the nickel electrode.