Rechargeable battery and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A rechargeable battery according to the present disclosure includes: an electrode assembly including a plurality of electrode plates each including an electrode base tab and disposed to be stacked on each other, and a separator interposed between the plurality of electrode plates; and a case accommodating the electrode assembly, wherein the width of the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate in the electrode assembly is smaller than the width of the electrode base tabs of the remaining electrode plates.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a rechargeable battery and a method of manufacturing the rechargeable battery. Background Art

[0002] Unlike primary batteries, rechargeable batteries can be repeatedly charged and discharged. Low-capacity rechargeable batteries including electrode assemblies encapsulated in a package can be used as a power source for various small portable electronic devices such as mobile phones and portable cameras. High-capacity rechargeable batteries with dozens of connected electrode assemblies can be used as a power source for driving motors such as those used in electric scooters, hybrid vehicles, and electric vehicles. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present disclosure attempts to overcome the above-mentioned conventional problems and provide a rechargeable battery having improved durability.

[0004] A rechargeable battery according to the present disclosure includes: an electrode assembly having a plurality of electrode plates, a separator, each of the plurality of electrode plates including an electrode base tab and being arranged to be stacked on each other, the separator being inserted between at least some of the plurality of electrode plates; and a shell accommodating the electrode assembly, wherein the width of the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate in the electrode assembly is smaller than the width of the electrode base tabs of the remaining electrode plates.

[0005] The plurality of electrode plates may include a plurality of first electrode plates and a plurality of second electrode plates, each of the first electrode plates including a first electrode base tab, and each of the second electrode plates including a second electrode base tab.

[0006] The first electrode base tabs may be aligned to overlap each other, and the second electrode base tabs may be aligned to overlap each other.

[0007] The first electrode plates may be disposed at the upper outermost side and the lower outermost side of the electrode assembly.

[0008] Second electrode plates may be disposed at upper outermost and lower outermost portions of the electrode assembly.

[0009] The first electrode plate may be disposed at the outermost upper portion of the electrode assembly, and the second electrode plate may be disposed at the outermost lower portion of the electrode assembly.

[0010] The second electrode plate may be disposed at the outermost upper portion of the electrode assembly, and the first electrode plate may be disposed at the outermost lower portion of the electrode assembly.

[0011] The electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate in the electrode assembly may be located in an inner region of the electrode base tabs of the remaining electrode plates.

[0012] A difference D between one end (based on the width direction) of the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate in the electrode assembly and one end (based on the width direction) of the electrode base tabs of the remaining electrode plates may be in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

[0013] A width H1 of the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate of the electrode assembly may be in the range of 7.5 mm to 8.5 mm.

[0014] Excluding the electrode base tabs of the outermost electrode plates of the electrode assembly, the width H2 of the electrode base tabs of the remaining electrode plates may be in the range of 8.5 mm to 9.5 mm.

[0015] In an outermost electrode plate among the plurality of electrode plates, a boundary between the electrode base tab and the electrode current collector may be rounded.

[0016] The radius R of the rounded portion of the electrode base tab and the electrode current collector may be in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

[0017] The first electrode plate may include a first electrode current collector to which a first electrode active material is applied, a first electrode base tab may be integrally formed with the first electrode current collector and extend outward from a portion of the first electrode plate, and the second electrode plate may include a second electrode current collector to which a second electrode active material is applied, and a second electrode base tab may be integrally formed with the second electrode current collector and extend outward from a portion of the second electrode plate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a separated electrode assembly and a case in a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of an electrode assembly.

[0020] Figure 3 Observed from direction A Figure 1 A top view of the portion of an electrode assembly where a first electrode substrate terminal tab is located. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Preferred embodiments are described herein to illustrate the concept. However, these embodiments are only intended to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art in the field of the present disclosure. The concept can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0022] In addition, in the accompanying drawings, the size or thickness of various components may be exaggerated for simplicity and clarity. The same reference numerals always refer to the same elements. When used in this article, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more items in the relevant listed items. In addition, it should be understood that when element A is referred to as "connected to" element B, element A may be directly connected to element B, or an intervening element C may appear between them so that element A and element B are indirectly connected to each other.

[0023] The terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. When used herein, the singular form is intended to also include the plural form, and vice versa, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that when used in this specification, the terms "comprise or include" and / or "comprising or including" specify the presence of the features, quantities, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, steps, operations, elements, components and / or their collections.

[0024] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. can be used to describe various components, elements, regions, layers and / or parts in this article, these components, elements, regions, layers and / or parts should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish a component, element, region, layer and / or part from another component, element, region, layer and / or part. Therefore, for example, the first component, first element, first region, first layer and / or first part discussed below can be referred to as the second component, second element, second region, second layer and / or second part, without departing from the teaching of the present disclosure.

[0025] For ease of description, spatial relationship terms such as "below", "beneath", "lower", "above", "upper", etc. may be used herein to describe the relationship of an element or feature to another element(s) or feature(s) as shown in the figures. It should be understood that in addition to the orientations depicted in the figures, the spatial relationship terms are also intended to cover different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, if the elements or features in the figures are turned over, the elements described as "below" or "below" another element or feature will be oriented "above" or "above" the other element or feature. Therefore, the exemplary term "below" can cover both the above and below orientations.

[0026] Hereinafter, a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Figure 1is a perspective view showing a separated electrode assembly and a case in a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of an electrode assembly, Figure 3 Observed from direction A Figure 1 A top view of the portion of an electrode assembly where a first electrode substrate terminal tab is located.

[0028] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown in , a rechargeable battery 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include an electrode assembly 100 and a case 200 .

[0029] The electrode assembly 100 may include a plurality of electrode plates 110 and 120 and a separator 130. Each of the electrode plates 110 and 120 may include electrode base tabs 111 and 121, and may be disposed to be stacked on each other.

[0030] The electrode assembly 100 may be in the form of a laminate including a first electrode plate 110, a second electrode plate 120, and a separator 130 that are repeatedly wound or stacked. For example, the electrode assembly 100 may be a jelly roll type that is repeatedly wound. Alternatively, there may be a plurality of electrode assemblies 100 of a stacking type that are arranged to be stacked in multiple layers. In the present disclosure, a stacking type electrode assembly 100 will be described as an example. In more detail, the electrode plates 110 and 120 may include a first electrode plate 110 and a second electrode plate 120.

[0031] The first electrode plate 110 may include a first electrode base tab 111. There may be a plurality of first electrode plates 110, and there may also be a plurality of first electrode base tabs 111. The plurality of first electrode base tabs 111 may be joined to each other, such as by welding. For example, the plurality of first electrode base tabs 111 may be assembled and joined together by welding, such as by any one of laser welding, resistance welding, and ultrasonic welding.

[0032] The second electrode plate 120 may include a second electrode base tab 121. If the electrode assembly 100 is a stacked type, the first electrode plate 110 and the second electrode plate 120 may be alternately stacked, and the second electrode plate 120 may include a plurality of second electrode plates. There may also be a plurality of second electrode base tabs 121. Like the first electrode base tab 111, the plurality of second electrode base tabs 121 may be joined to each other, such as by using various welding methods.

[0033] The second electrode plate 120 may include a negative electrode and the first electrode plate 110 may include a positive electrode, or vice versa. The first and second electrode plates 110 and 120 may be electrically connected to the outside of the rechargeable battery 10 through a bar terminal (not shown).

[0034] The electrical connection between the first electrode base tab 111 and the bar terminal (not shown) may be achieved through the first welding portion W1. For example, a plurality of first electrode base tabs 111 may be closely combined together and integrally bonded to the bar terminal (not shown) through the first welding portion W1. The first welding portion W1 may be formed by ultrasonic welding among various welding methods.

[0035] For ultrasonic welding, for example, the first electrode base tab 111 and the strip terminal are arranged to overlap each other as a welding base material. In addition, in this example, the first electrode base tab 111 and the strip terminal are pressed between a horn (not shown) and an anvil (not shown) of a welding machine so that joining can be achieved by vibration energy (such as friction heat transmitted during high-frequency ultrasonic vibration).

[0036] For example, for the first electrode base tab 111 made of a low resistance metal material, if resistance welding is used, sufficient resistance heat for melting and merging of the base material may not be generated. Therefore, ultrasonic welding may be more preferably used than resistance welding.

[0037] Furthermore, electrical connection between the second electrode base tab 121 and the bar terminal (not shown) may be achieved through a second welding portion W2 , which in one embodiment is similar to the above-described first welding portion W1 .

[0038] Hereinafter, for better understanding and convenience of description, the first electrode plate 110 will be described herein as a positive electrode and the second electrode plate 120 will be described as a negative electrode, but the concept is not limited thereto.

[0039] The first electrode plate 110 as a positive electrode may include a first electrode active material 113 such as a transition metal oxide applied to a first electrode current collector 112, which itself is formed of a metal foil such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The first electrode base tab 111 may be formed integrally with the first electrode current collector 112 and may extend outward from a portion of the first electrode plate 110.

[0040] The method of manufacturing the first electrode plate 110 may include, for example, pressing the first electrode current collector 112 with a press machine, thereby producing the first electrode base tab 111 in a certain desired shape, such as a rectangular shape.

[0041] In addition, the first electrode base tab 111 may be positioned so as not to overlap with the second electrode base tab 121. For example, based on Figure 1In the direction shown in FIG. 1 , the second electrode base tab 121 may be disposed on the right side, and the first electrode base tab 111 may be disposed on the left side. That is, the plurality of first electrode base tabs 111 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the plurality of second electrode base tabs 121 .

[0042] When a plurality of first electrode base tabs 111 are provided, the first electrode base tab 111 may be defined as a multi-tab arrangement. The first electrode base tab 111 may be a path for current flow between the first electrode current collector 112 and a bar terminal (not shown).

[0043] The second electrode plate 120 as a negative electrode can be formed by applying a second electrode active material 123 such as graphite or carbon to a second electrode collector 122, which itself is formed of a metal foil such as copper, copper alloy, nickel or nickel alloy. The second electrode base tab 121 can extend outward from the second electrode collector 122.

[0044] The method of manufacturing the second electrode plate 120 may include, for example, pressing the second electrode current collector 122 with a press machine, thereby producing the second electrode base tab 121 in a desired shape, such as a rectangular shape.

[0045] The separator 130 may be inserted between the first electrode plate 110 and the second electrode plate 120. The separator 130 prevents a short circuit between the first electrode plate 110 and the second electrode plate 120 and enables movement of lithium ions. To this end, the separator 130 may be larger in size than the first electrode plate 110 and the second electrode plate 120. The material of the separator 130 may be, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, or a composite film of polyethylene and polypropylene, but is not limited thereto.

[0046] The separator 130 may be cut into unit lengths and disposed between the first electrode plate 110 and the second electrode plate 120. Alternatively, a single separator 130 in a strip shape may be disposed between the first electrode plate 110 and the second electrode plate 120 to form a zigzag shape. Alternatively, the separator 130 may be wound in one direction between the first electrode plate 110 and the second electrode plate 120. In this way, the arrangement form of the separator 130 is not limited to a specific form.

[0047] The case 200 may contain the electrode assembly 100 and an electrolyte solution. The case 200 may be one of a pouch type, a cylindrical type, and a square type.

[0048] The case 200 may be manufactured by bending a plate-shaped external material to face each other, pressing or drawing one side, and including a recess 210 on one side. The electrode assembly 100 may be accommodated in the recess 210. The sealing portion 220 may be formed on the outer circumference of the recess 210, and when the electrode assembly 100 is accommodated in the recess 210, the sealing portion 220 is sealed using a method such as heat fusion.

[0049] The manufacturing process of the electrode assembly 100 described above may include a first stacking step and a second stacking step.

[0050] In the first stacking step, a full cathode including the remaining first electrode plates excluding the outermost first electrode plate 110A among the first electrode plates 110 and a full anode including the second electrode plate 120 may be stacked.

[0051] In the second stacking step, the half cathode may be stacked on one or more sides of the two outermost sides based on the stacking direction. The half cathode may include the outermost first electrode plate 110A among the first electrode plates 110. For convenience, Figure 1 The electrode assembly 100 is shown in which the half cathode is stacked on both the upper outermost side and the lower outermost side of the electrode assembly 100. However, it is also possible that the half cathode is stacked only on the upper outermost side of the electrode assembly 100, and the half anode is stacked on the lower outermost side of the electrode assembly 100. Here, the full cathode and the full anode have active materials applied to both sides of the substrate, and the half cathode and the half anode have active materials applied to only one side of the substrate, but the concept is not limited thereto.

[0052] Hereinafter, a specific shape of the electrode assembly 100 in the rechargeable battery 10 having the above-described structure will be described in detail.

[0053] like Figure 3 As shown, a width H1 of an electrode base tab 111A of an outermost electrode plate 110A in an electrode assembly 100 included in a rechargeable battery 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be smaller than a width H2 of an electrode base tab 111B of the remaining electrode plates 110B, which are connected to each other.

[0054] like Figure 1 As shown, for example, the first electrode plate 110A may be located on the upper outermost side and the lower outermost side of the electrode assembly 100. With this arrangement, there may be a total of 2n+1 (n=1, 2, 3...) electrode plates 110 and 120, the first electrode plate 110 may include n+1 plates, and the second electrode plate 120 may include n plates. Therefore, the first electrode plate 110 may be located on the upper outermost side and the lower outermost side of the electrode assembly 100.

[0055] Alternatively, it is possible that the second electrode plate 120 is located on the upper outermost side and the lower outermost side of the electrode assembly 100 .

[0056] Although not shown, it is also possible that the first electrode plate 110 is located on the upper outermost side of the electrode assembly 100 and the second electrode plate 120 is located on the lower outermost side of the electrode assembly 100. Conversely, it is possible that the second electrode plate 120 is located on the upper outermost side of the electrode assembly 100 and the first electrode plate 110 is located on the lower outermost side of the electrode assembly 100.

[0057] The first electrode plates 110 and the second electrode plates 120 may be stacked in equal numbers.

[0058] In the electrode assembly 100 as described above, the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate may be located in the inner region of the electrode base tabs of the remaining electrode plates, which are connected to each other. In more detail, in the case of the rechargeable battery 10 in which the first electrode plate 110 is located at the outermost side of the electrode assembly 100, the first electrode base tab 111A of the outermost first electrode plate 110A among the plurality of first electrode plates 110 may be located in the inner region of the first electrode base tab 111B of the remaining first electrode plates 110B.

[0059] In addition, among the plurality of first electrode plates 110, both ends of the first electrode base tab 111A of the outermost first electrode plate 110A in the width direction may be located within both ends of the first electrode base tab 111B of the remaining first electrode plates 110B. In other words, the first electrode base tab 111A of the outermost first electrode plate 110A among the plurality of first electrode plates 110 may be disposed so as not to protrude outward from the first electrode base tab 111B of the remaining first electrode plates 110B. More specifically, the difference D between one end (based on the width direction) of the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate in the electrode assembly 100 and one end (based on the width direction) of the electrode base tab of the remaining electrode plates may be in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

[0060] If the first electrode plate 110 is located at the outermost side in the electrode assembly 100, a difference D between one end of a first electrode base tab 111A of the outermost first electrode plate 110A and one end of a first electrode base tab 111B of the remaining first electrode plates 110B in the width direction may be in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

[0061] Among the multiple first electrode plates 110, if the difference D between one end of the first electrode base tab 111A of the outermost first electrode plate 110A and one end of the first electrode base tab 111B of the remaining first electrode plates 110B in the width direction is less than 0.5 mm, it is possible that stress will be concentrated at the boundary portion between the first electrode base tab 111A of the outermost first electrode plate 110A and the first electrode current collector 112.

[0062] If a difference D in the width direction between one end of the first electrode base tab 111A of the outermost first electrode plate 110A among the plurality of first electrode plates 110 and one end of the first electrode base tab 111B of the remaining first electrode plates 110B exceeds 2.0 mm, a width H1 of the first electrode base tab 111A of the outermost first electrode plate 110A among the plurality of first electrode plates 110 may be excessively small, resulting in an increase in resistance or difficulty in establishing or maintaining an electrical connection with the rechargeable battery 10 from the outside through the strip terminal.

[0063] If the difference D between one end (in the width direction) of the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate located in the electrode assembly 100 and one end (in the width direction) of the electrode base tabs of the remaining electrode plates is the same as above (these electrode plates are connected to each other), the width H1 of the electrode base tab 111A of the outermost electrode plate located in the electrode assembly 100 can be in the range of 7.5 mm to 8.5 mm.

[0064] Excluding the electrode base tab 111A of the outermost electrode plate in the electrode assembly 100 , the width H2 of the electrode base tabs 111B of the remaining electrode plates may be in the range of 8.5 mm to 9.5 mm.

[0065] A boundary portion between the electrode base tab 111A and the first electrode collector 112 in the outermost electrode plate among the plurality of electrode plates may be rounded. A radius R of the rounded portion of the electrode base tab 111A and the first electrode collector 112 may be in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

[0066] As described above, since the base tab of the outermost electrode plate among the plurality of electrode plates 110 and 120 is sufficiently small in size, it is advantageous to position the electrode base tab 111A of the outermost electrode plate in the inner region of the electrode base tabs 111B of the remaining electrode plates.

[0067] As described above, in the rechargeable battery 10 according to the present disclosure, the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate in the electrode assembly is manufactured to be smaller in width than the electrode base tabs of the remaining electrode plates, which are connected to each other. Therefore, if expansion occurs in the rechargeable battery 10, stress can be dispersed to the surrounding area without being concentrated at the boundary between the electrode base tab 111A of the outermost electrode plate and the electrode current collector.

[0068] Therefore, the rechargeable battery according to the present disclosure may prevent a sudden hard short circuit from occurring due to a bent portion between the electrode base tab and the first electrode current collector caused by pressure attributed to expansion causing intensified stress.

[0069] In a rechargeable battery according to the present disclosure, the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate in the electrode assembly is manufactured to be smaller in width than the electrode base tabs of the remaining electrode plates connected to each other. Therefore, if expansion occurs in the rechargeable battery, stress can be dispersed to the surrounding area without being concentrated at the boundary between the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate and the electrode current collector.

[0070] Therefore, the rechargeable battery according to the present disclosure can prevent a sudden hard short circuit from occurring due to a bending portion between the electrode base tab and the first electrode current collector being expanded and squeezed, which causes stress to intensify.

[0071] Rechargeable batteries may be manufactured in various shapes, among which a pouch-type battery may include an electrode assembly including an insulating separator interposed between positive and negative electrode plates and a thin flexible pouch, the electrode assembly being embedded in the thin flexible pouch.

[0072] At this time, the bag accommodates the electrode assembly in the inner space. A plurality of positive electrode tabs are coupled to the positive electrode plate of the electrode assembly, and a plurality of negative electrode tabs are coupled to the negative electrode plate.

[0073] Here, a plurality of positive electrode tabs are conventionally made of the same width and arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and a plurality of negative electrode tabs are also conventionally made in the same manner. Therefore, if expansion occurs in a rechargeable battery, there is a problem of fracture occurring at the edge of the positive electrode substrate tab as stress acts.

[0074] Although the present disclosure has been described in conjunction with embodiments currently considered to be practical embodiments, the drawings and detailed description of the present disclosure described above are merely illustrative and are only used for the purpose of describing the present invention, and are not used to limit the meaning of the present disclosure disclosed in the attached claims or to limit its scope. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and other equivalent embodiments can be made by the present disclosure. Therefore, the actual technical protection scope of the present disclosure will be defined by the claims.

[0075] <Description of Reference Numerals>

[0076] 10: Rechargeable battery

[0077] 100: electrode assembly 110: first electrode plate

[0078] 111: first electrode substrate connection tab 112: first electrode current collector

[0079] 113: first electrode active material 120: second electrode plate

[0080] 121: Second electrode substrate terminal tab 122: Second electrode current collector

[0081] 123: Second electrode active material 130: Separator

[0082] 200: Shell

Claims

1. A rechargeable battery comprising: an electrode assembly including a plurality of electrode plates, each of which includes an electrode substrate tab and is arranged to be stacked on each other, and a separator interposed between the plurality of electrode plates; as well as a casing for accommodating the electrode assembly, The width of the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate in the electrode assembly is smaller than the width of the electrode base tab of each of the remaining electrode plates.

2. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein The plurality of electrode plates include: a plurality of first electrode plates, each first electrode plate comprising a first electrode substrate tab; as well as A plurality of second electrode plates, each second electrode plate comprising a second electrode base tab.

3. The rechargeable battery according to claim 2, wherein The first electrode base tabs are aligned to overlap each other, And the second electrode base tabs are aligned to overlap each other.

4. The rechargeable battery according to claim 2, wherein The first electrode plates are disposed at the upper outermost side and the lower outermost side of the electrode assembly.

5. The rechargeable battery according to claim 2, wherein The second electrode plates are disposed at the upper outermost side and the lower outermost side of the electrode assembly.

6. The rechargeable battery according to claim 2, wherein The first electrode plate is arranged on the outermost side of the upper portion of the electrode assembly, And the second electrode plate is arranged at the outermost side of the lower part of the electrode assembly.

7. The rechargeable battery according to claim 2, wherein The second electrode plate is arranged on the outermost side of the upper portion of the electrode assembly, And the first electrode plate is arranged at the outermost side of the lower part of the electrode assembly.

8. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein The electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate in the electrode assembly is located in an inner region of the electrode base tabs of the remaining electrode plates.

9. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein A difference D between one end of the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate in the electrode assembly and one end of the electrode base tab of the remaining electrode plates in the electrode assembly is in a range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

10. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein A width H1 of the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate of the electrode assembly is in the range of 7.5 mm to 8.5 mm.

11. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein Excluding the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate of the electrode assembly, a width H2 of the electrode base tabs of the remaining electrode plates is in the range of 8.5 mm to 9.5 mm.

12. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein A boundary between the electrode base tab and an electrode current collector in the outermost electrode plate among the plurality of electrode plates is rounded.

13. The rechargeable battery according to claim 12, wherein The radius R of the rounded portion of the electrode base tab and the electrode current collector is in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

14. The rechargeable battery according to claim 2, wherein The first electrode plate includes a first electrode current collector to which a first electrode active material is applied, The first electrode base terminal tab is formed integrally with the first electrode current collector, and the first electrode base terminal tab extends outward from a portion of the first electrode plate, The second electrode plate includes a second electrode current collector to which a second electrode active material is applied, And the second electrode base tab is formed integrally with the second electrode current collector, and the second electrode base tab extends outward from a portion of the second electrode plate.

15. A rechargeable battery comprising: An electrode assembly, comprising a plurality of electrode plates and a separator, each electrode plate comprising an electrode base tab and arranged to be stacked on each other, the separator being interposed between the plurality of electrode plates, the plurality of electrode plates comprising a plurality of first electrode plates and a plurality of second electrode plates, each first electrode plate comprising a first electrode base tab, each second electrode plate comprising a second electrode base tab, the first electrode base tabs being arranged to overlap each other, and the second electrode base tabs being arranged to overlap each other; and A casing for accommodating the electrode assembly.

16. A method of manufacturing a rechargeable battery, comprising: Providing an electrode assembly having a plurality of electrode plates, each electrode plate having an electrode substrate tab; stacking the electrode plates on each other, wherein the width of the electrode substrate terminal tab of the outermost electrode plate is smaller than the width of the electrode substrate terminal tabs of the remaining electrode plates; inserting a separator between the stacked electrode plates; A case is provided to accommodate the electrode assembly.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of electrode plates comprises a plurality of first electrode plates and a plurality of second electrode plates, each first electrode plate comprising a first electrode base tab, each second electrode plate comprising a second electrode base tab, and wherein the electrode plates are stacked such that the first electrode base tabs overlap each other and the second electrode base tabs overlap each other. 18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the electrode plates are stacked such that the first electrode plates are positioned at upper outermost and lower outermost portions of the electrode assembly. 19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the electrode plates are stacked such that the second electrode plates are positioned at upper outermost and lower outermost portions of the electrode assembly. 20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the electrode plates are stacked such that the electrode base tab of the outermost electrode plate in the electrode assembly is located in an inner region of the electrode base tabs of the remaining electrode plates.

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