Electrode assembly and battery cell including the same

The electrode assembly with a laminated structure and bidirectional electrode design addresses connectivity issues, simplifying the manufacturing process and enhancing high-output performance.

JP7604732B2Active Publication Date: 2024-12-24LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023539163
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2022-10-24
Publication Date
2024-12-24
Estimated Expiration
2042-10-24

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing electrode assemblies face challenges in achieving high output performance while maintaining a simplified manufacturing process, with issues such as electrodes not being connected effectively in multiple directions and requiring additional processes.

Method used

The electrode assembly features a laminated structure with electrodes having coated and uncoated parts in zigzag and folder shapes, allowing for bidirectional formation, and a separator with a zigzag shape, enabling efficient stacking and connection without unit cutting.

Benefits of technology

This structure simplifies the manufacturing process and enhances high-output performance by allowing electrodes to be formed in both directions, improving connectivity and output capabilities.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electrode assembly includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, the positive electrode or the negative electrode including a coating portion having an electrode active material applied thereto and a plain portion having no electrode active material applied thereto, one of the positive electrode or the negative electrode having a zigzag shape formed by folding a rectangular sheet having the coating portions and the plain portion alternately formed thereon, the other of the positive electrode or the negative electrode having a folder shape formed by folding a sheet having two coating portions sandwiching one plain portion therebetween, the electrode taps of the electrode having the zigzag shape being formed in both directions, and the electrode taps of the electrode having the folder shape being formed in one direction and disposed perpendicular to the electrode taps formed in both directions.
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Description

[Technical field]

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0137261 dated October 15, 2021, and all contents disclosed in the documents of that Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrode assembly and a battery cell including the same, and more particularly, to an electrode assembly having a novel laminated structure and a battery cell including the same. [Background technology]

[0003] In modern society, as the use of portable devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, camcorders, and digital cameras has become commonplace, there has been active development of technology related to such mobile devices. In addition, rechargeable secondary batteries are a solution to address air pollution caused by existing gasoline-powered vehicles that use fossil fuels, and are used as the power source for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (P-HEVs), etc., so there is an increasing need for the development of secondary batteries.

[0004] Currently, commercially available secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Of these, lithium secondary batteries are attracting the most attention due to their advantages of being freely chargeable and dischargeable, having a low self-discharge rate, and having a high energy density.

[0005] Depending on the shape of the battery case, secondary batteries are classified into cylindrical batteries and prismatic batteries, in which the electrode assembly is housed in a cylindrical or prismatic metal can, and pouch batteries, in which the electrode assembly is housed in a pouch-type case made of an aluminum laminate sheet.

[0006] Secondary batteries can also be classified according to the structure of the electrode assembly, which is a stack of positive and negative electrodes and a separator between the positive and negative electrodes. Representative examples include a jelly-roll type (wound-type) electrode assembly in which long sheet-type positive and negative electrodes are wound with a separator between them, and a stack type (layered type) electrode assembly in which a plurality of positive and negative electrodes cut into units of a predetermined size are stacked in sequence with a separator between them. Recently, to solve the problems of the jelly-roll type electrode assembly and the stack type electrode assembly, a stack / folding type electrode assembly, which is a combination of the jelly-roll type and the stack type, has been developed.

[0007] Meanwhile, in manufacturing a stack / folding type electrode assembly, a winding-stack folding method and a zigzag stack folding method are mainly used. Such a stack folding electrode assembly has a great advantage in terms of output since a number of electrodes are connected in a parallel structure. Generally, a stack folding electrode assembly is formed by stacking sheet electrodes cut through a notching process. At this time, the electrode tab The direction is fixed in one direction.

[0008] Conventionally, in order to improve the output characteristics of the stack folding type electrode assembly and to simplify the process, tab A multi-directional configuration or a process of stacking electrodes without cutting them has also been devised.

[0009] In this regard, Patent Document 1 discloses an electrode suitable for use at high currents. tab To configure each electrode, multiple electrodes tab However, this type of electrode structure is tab However, since the electrodes are merely stacked in different directions, a continuous process is not possible, and since the stacked electrodes are not connected to each other, an additional process is required.

[0010] In addition, Patent Document 2 relates to an electrode assembly in which two electrodes are zigzag folded and interconnected, simplifying the electrode process and minimizing structural changes, and which can be used in high-output battery cells. However, the electrode assembly in Patent Document 2 has a large material loss because one side of the electrode is entirely composed of a ground portion, and at least one electrode tab However, it has a disadvantage that it cannot be formed in both directions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2010-0135382 (December 27, 2010) [Patent Document 2] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2016-0088303 (July 25, 2016) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode assembly that has improved processability and can be used in a high-power environment, and a battery cell including the electrode assembly.

[0013] However, the problems to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above problems, and can be variously expanded within the scope of the technical ideas included in the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, the positive electrode or the negative electrode including a coating portion having an electrode active material applied thereto and a plain portion having no electrode active material applied thereto, one of the positive electrode or the negative electrode having a zigzag shape formed by folding a rectangular sheet having the coating portions and the plain portion alternately formed therein, and the other of the positive electrode or the negative electrode having a folder shape formed by folding a sheet having two coating portions sandwiching one plain portion therebetween, tab The electrodes are formed in both directions, and the electrodes having the folder shape are tab is formed in one direction, and the electrodes formed in both directions tab and are arranged vertically.

[0015] In addition, the separator may have a zigzag shape formed by bending a long separator sheet according to a predetermined unit length.

[0016] The zigzag-shaped electrode and separator have fold lines formed by folding, the fold lines of the electrode being formed in the uncoated portion, and the fold lines of the electrode may be disposed perpendicular to the fold lines of the separator.

[0017] The fold lines formed on the folder-shaped electrode may be arranged parallel to the fold lines of the separator.

[0018] Two unit separators may be positioned between two coating portions of the electrode having a zigzag shape, and two other unit separators may be positioned between the other two coating portions of the electrode having a zigzag shape. One of the two coating portions of the electrode having a folder shape may be positioned between the two unit separators, and the other of the two coating portions of the electrode having a folder shape may be positioned between the other two unit separators.

[0019] The coating portions have long sides facing each other and short sides facing each other, and the uncoated portion of the electrode having the zigzag shape may be located between the long sides of the coating portions, and the uncoated portion of the electrode having the folder shape may be disposed between the short sides of the coating portions.

[0020] The coating portion may have long sides facing each other and short sides facing each other, and the uncoated portion of the zigzag electrode may be disposed between the long sides of the coating portion.

[0021] Also, the folded portion of the separation membrane may be disposed between the short sides of the separation membrane.

[0022] The electrode having the zigzag shape may be a positive electrode.

[0023] The electrode having the folder shape may be a negative electrode.

[0024] The coating portion of the electrode may be formed on both sides.

[0025] A battery cell according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the above-described electrode assembly. Effect of the Invention

[0026] According to an embodiment, the electrode assembly and the battery cell including the same of the present invention are manufactured by applying a novel laminated structure to the electrode assembly, and the manufacturing process is simplified. tab can be formed.

[0027] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 illustrates an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state before the first electrode included in FIG. 1 is folded. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state before the second electrode included in FIG. 1 is folded. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the state of the separation membrane included in FIG. 1 before it is folded. [Figure 6] 2 is a view showing a process in which a first electrode and a separator are bonded to each other in FIG. 1; [Figure 7] 1. FIG. 4 is another view showing a process of bonding the first electrode and the separator of FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a view showing one surface of a laminate in which a first electrode and a separator are combined in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 9] 2 is a view showing a process in which the first electrode, the separator, and the second electrode of FIG. 1 are bonded together; [Figure 10] 2A and 2B are views showing one and other sides of an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 11] 4 is another view showing one and other sides of an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 12] 4 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] In order to clearly explain the present invention, parts that are not necessary for the explanation will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout the specification to refer to the same or similar components.

[0031] In addition, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily enlarged or reduced for the convenience of explanation, and it is obvious that the contents of the present invention are not limited to those shown in the drawings. In the following drawings, the thickness of each layer is enlarged to clearly show various layers and regions. In the following drawings, the thickness of some layers and regions is exaggerated for the convenience of explanation.

[0032] In addition, when a layer, film, region, plate, etc. is described as being "on" or "above" another part, this should be interpreted as including not only the case where the layer, film, region, plate, etc. is "directly on" the other part, but also the case where there is another part therebetween. Conversely, when a layer, film, region, plate, etc. is described as being "directly on" the other part, it can mean that there is no other part therebetween. In addition, being "on" or "above" a reference part means being located above or below the reference part, and does not necessarily mean being located "on" or "above" the opposite direction to gravity. Meanwhile, similarly to describing being "on" or "above" another part, describing being "below" or "below" another part should be understood with reference to the above content.

[0033] Additionally, throughout the specification, when a part is said to "comprise" a certain element, this means that it may further include other elements, but not excluding other elements, unless specifically stated to the contrary.

[0034] Additionally, throughout the specification, the term "in a plane" means the part in question viewed from above, and the term "in cross section" means the part in question viewed from the side on a vertical cross section.

[0035] An electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

[0036] Figures 1 and 2 are views showing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a view showing a state before a first electrode included in Figure 1 is folded. Figure 4 is a view showing a state before a second electrode included in Figure 1 is folded. Figure 5 is a view showing a state before a separator included in Figure 1 is folded.

[0037] 1 and 2, the electrode assembly 100 of the present embodiment may be a power generating element capable of charging and discharging. The electrodes included in the electrode assembly 100 may include a first electrode 110 and a second electrode 120, and a separator 130 is interposed between the electrodes, so that the electrode assembly 100 may have a structure in which the first electrode 110 / separator 130 / second electrode 120 are alternately stacked. Here, the first electrode 110 may be a positive electrode, and the second electrode 120 may be a negative electrode. However, this is not necessarily the case, and the first electrode 110 may be a negative electrode and the second electrode 120 may be a positive electrode depending on the design.

[0038] A first uncoated portion 111 and a second uncoated portion 121, which are parts of the first electrode 110 or the second electrode 120, may be disposed on the edge of the electrode assembly 100. The first uncoated portion 111 and the second uncoated portion 121 are the electrodes of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120. tab may be also possible.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in the electrode assembly 100 of this embodiment, the first electrode 110 tab The electrode of the second electrode 120 can be formed in both directions. tab The electrode of the first electrode 110 can be formed in one direction. tab and the second electrode 120 tab can be arranged perpendicular to each other.

[0040] 3, the first electrode 110 of the present embodiment may be a current collector coated with an active material. The first electrode 110 may include a first coating portion 113 coated with the active material and a first uncoated portion 111 that is an uncoated portion where the active material is not coated. Here, the first coating portion 113 may be formed on both sides.

[0041] The first electrode 110 may be provided as a rectangular sheet in which a plurality of first coating portions 113 and first uncoated portions 111 are alternately arranged. The sheet-type first electrode 110 may be formed into a zigzag shape by folding along a folding line. Specifically, when the first electrode 110 has an upper surface and a lower surface, two adjacent first coating portions 113 are overlapped by bringing their lower surfaces into contact with each other, and two adjacent first coating portions 113 are overlapped by bringing their upper surfaces into contact with each other.

[0042] The first coating portion 113 may be manufactured in a unit size according to the design of the electrode assembly 100. The first coating portion 113 may have long sides a1 facing each other and short sides b1 facing each other. The first uncoated portion 111 may be disposed between the long sides a1 of two adjacent first coating portions 113. A fold line may be formed in the first uncoated portion 111 and correspond to the long sides a1. The fold line may be disposed parallel to the long sides a1. The fold line may be disposed between the long sides a1 of the two opposing first coating portions 113, and the first electrode 110 is folded along the fold line to stack the two first coating portions 113.

[0043] Here, the fold lines may be pre-formed, or may be formed by folding the first electrode 110 in a zigzag shape during the process of forming the electrode assembly 100. It should be noted that the fold lines shown on the rectangular sheet-shaped first electrode 110 in FIG. 3 are for the purpose of explaining the first electrode 110 formed in a zigzag shape, and it is not necessary that the fold lines be pre-formed. In addition, the same content should be applicable to the second electrode 120 or the separator 130.

[0044] In addition, when the fold line is formed by folding the first electrode 110 in a zigzag shape, the fold line may be formed to have a slight inclination different from that shown in the drawings. Therefore, in this specification, it is preferable that the fold line corresponds to or is parallel to a specific side or other fold line, and it also includes the case where the fold line and the specific side or other fold line form a predetermined angle. In this specification, it is preferable that the fold line is perpendicular to a specific side or other fold line, and it also includes the case where the fold line and the specific side or other fold line form a predetermined angle. Here, the predetermined angle may be an angle of 10 degrees (°) or less. This content should be applied not only to the first electrode 110 but also to the second electrode 120 or the separator 130.

[0045] 4, the second electrode 120 of the present embodiment may be a current collector coated with an active material. The second electrode 120 may include a second coating portion 123 coated with the active material and a second uncoated portion 121 that is an uncoated portion where the active material is not coated. Here, the second coating portion 123 may be coated on both sides. In this case, the size of the second coating portion 123 may be larger than the size of the first coating portion 113.

[0046] The second electrode 120 is provided as a rectangular sheet in which a plurality of second coating portions 123 and second uncoated portions 121 are connected, and can be cut into a predetermined size along a cutting line. In this case, two second coating portions 123 and one second uncoated portion 121 are alternately positioned on the rectangular electrode sheet, and the cutting line can be formed between two adjacent second coating portions 123 without the second uncoated portion 121.

[0047] The second electrode 120 cut along the cutting line may include two second coating portions 123 and one second uncoated portion 121 located therebetween. A fold line may be formed in the second uncoated portion 121, and the second electrode 120 may be formed into a folder shape by being folded along the fold line. Here, the folder shape may refer to a folded shape formed by folding once. Specifically, when the second electrode 120 has an upper surface and a lower surface, the cut second electrode 120 is folded by bringing the upper surfaces of the two second coating portions 123 into contact with each other, or by bringing the lower surfaces into contact with each other.

[0048] Here, the fold lines may be pre-formed, or may be formed by folding the second electrode 120 into a folder shape during the process of forming the electrode assembly 100. Therefore, it should be made clear that the fold lines do not necessarily have to be pre-formed.

[0049] Each of the second coating portions 123 may be manufactured to a unit size according to the design of the electrode assembly 100. The second coating portions 123 may have long sides a2 facing each other and short sides b2 facing each other. The long sides a2 and short sides b2 of the second coating portions 123 may correspond to the long sides a1 and short sides b1 of the first coating portion 113, respectively. The second uncoated portion 121 may be disposed between the short sides b2 of two adjacent second coating portions 123. The cutting line and folding line may correspond to the short sides b2 of the second coating portions 123. The cutting line and folding line may be parallel to the short sides b2 of the second coating portions 123.

[0050] 5, the separator 130 of the present embodiment is provided in the form of a rectangular sheet, and may be formed into a zigzag shape by being folded along fold lines. The separator 130 may be made of an insulating material to electrically insulate the first electrode 110 from the second electrode 120. Here, the separator 130 may be provided as a polyolefin-based resin film, examples of which include polyethylene and polypropylene.

[0051] The separator 130 may be divided into a plurality of unit separators 133 by folding. Each unit separator 133 may be manufactured to a unit size according to the design of the electrode assembly 100. The size of the unit separator 133 may be constant. The unit separator 133 may have long sides a3 facing each other and short sides b3 facing each other. The long sides a3 and short sides b3 of the unit separator 133 may correspond to the long sides a1 and short sides b1 of the first electrode 110 and the long sides a2 and short sides b2 of the second electrode 120, respectively. Here, the unit separator 133 may be larger than the first coating portion 113 or the second coating portion 123. The long side a3 of the unit separation membrane 133 may be larger than the long side a1 of the first electrode 110 and the long side a2 of the second electrode 120, and the short side b3 of the unit separation membrane 133 may be larger than the short side b1 of the first electrode 110 and the short side b2 of the second electrode 120.

[0052] Here, the fold line may correspond to the short side b3. The fold line may be formed parallel to the short side b3 of the unit separation membrane 133. The fold line may be disposed between the short sides b3 of the two unit separation membranes 133 facing each other, and the two unit separation membranes 133 are overlapped by the fold line. As described above, the fold line may be formed in advance, or may be formed by folding the separation membrane 130 in a zigzag shape.

[0053] The separator 130 is folded in a zigzag shape. Specifically, when a unit separator 133 has an upper surface and a lower surface, two adjacent unit separators 133 are stacked by contacting each other with their lower surfaces, and two adjacent unit separators 133 are stacked by contacting each other with their upper surfaces.

[0054] Meanwhile, in the above description, the first coating portion 113, the second coating portion 123, and the unit separator 130 are all described as having long sides a1, a2, a3 and short sides b1, b2, b3, but it is also possible that the first coating portion 113, the second coating portion 123, and the unit separator 130 are provided in a form in which the lengths of all four sides are the same.

[0055] For example, the first coating portion 113 may be described as including a first side a1 and a second side b1 facing each other, the second coating portion 123 may be described as including a third side a2 and a fourth side b2 facing each other, and the unit separator 133 may be described as including a fifth side a3 and a sixth side b3 facing each other. The first side a1 may be described as having the same or similar length as the second side b1, the third side a2 may be described as having the same or similar length as the fourth side b2, and the fifth side a3 may be described as having the same or similar length as the sixth side b3 in the electrode assembly 100 of this embodiment.

[0056] More specifically, the first uncoated portion 111 may be disposed between first sides a1 of adjacent first coating portions 113, and the first side a1 may be a side corresponding to the fold line of the first electrode 110. The second uncoated portion 121 may be disposed between fourth sides b2 of adjacent second coating portions 123, and the fourth side b2 may be a side corresponding to the cutting line and fold line of the second electrode 120. The sixth side b3 of the unit separator 133 may be a side corresponding to the fold line of the separator 130.

[0057] Meanwhile, for the convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals as those used to explain the long and short sides are attached to the first to sixth sides, but this is merely for the purpose of explaining the relationship between each side and the non-coated portions 111, 121 or the relationship between the folding lines and cutting lines. Therefore, the lengths and ratios of the first to sixth sides are not limited to those shown in the drawings of this specification.

[0058] Fig. 6 is a view showing a process of bonding a first electrode and a separator in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is another view showing a process of bonding a first electrode and a separator in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a view showing one side of a laminate in which the first electrode and the separator in Fig. 1 are bonded.

[0059] 6 to 8, in the electrode assembly 100 of this embodiment, the first electrode 110 and the separator 130 may be coupled perpendicular to each other such that the long side a1 of the first coating portion 113 corresponds to the long side a3 of the unit separator 133 and the short side b1 of the first coating portion 113 corresponds to the short side b3 of the unit separator 133. The fold lines of the first electrode 110 and the fold lines of the separator 130 may be disposed perpendicular to each other in the electrode assembly 100.

[0060] In the vertically combined first electrode 110 and separator 130, a unit separator 133 may be disposed between two adjacent first coating portions 113. In this case, two unit separators 133 may be disposed between the opposing first coating portions 113. The two unit separators 133 may be folded so that their upper or lower surfaces are in contact with each other. As a result, one surface of each unit separator 133 may contact the first coating portion 113, and the other surface may contact the adjacent unit separator 133. Specifically, in the vertically combined first electrode 110 and separator 130, the first coating portion 113 and the unit separator 133 may be disposed in the following order: first coating portion 113, unit separator 133, unit separator 133, first coating portion 113, unit separator 133, unit separator 133, first coating portion 113... as shown in FIG.

[0061] Figure 9 is a view showing a process of combining the first electrode, separator, and second electrode of Figure 1. Figure 10 is a view showing one side and the other side of an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 is another view showing one side and the other side of an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that the shapes of the first coating portion 113 and the second coating portion 123 are omitted in Figure 10 for ease of explanation.

[0062] 9 to 11, in the assembly of Figures 6 to 8, the second coating portion 123 of the second electrode 120 is disposed between two unit separators 133 that contact each other, thereby forming an electrode assembly 100. Since the first coating portion 113 is disposed between two unit separators that contact each other and two other unit separators that contact each other, one of the second coating portions 123 of the second electrode 120 is disposed between the two unit separators that contact each other, and the other one is disposed between the two other unit separators that contact each other.

[0063] Specifically, the second electrode 120 may have a folder shape including two second coating units 123. As shown in FIG. 8, the first coating unit 113 and the unit separator 133 are stacked in the order of the first coating unit 113, unit separator 133, unit separator 133, first coating unit 113, unit separator 133, unit separator 133, and first coating unit 113. Here, the second coating unit 123 included in the second electrode 120 may be inserted between the two unit separators 133 stacked on top of each other. If the second coating unit 123 is disposed between the two stacked unit separators 133, an electrode assembly 100 may be formed in which the first coating unit 113, unit separator 133, second coating unit 123, unit separator 133, first coating unit 113, unit separator 133, second coating unit 123, unit separator 133, and first coating unit 113 are stacked in this order.

[0064] In the electrode assembly 100, the fold line of the second electrode 120 and the fold line of the first electrode 110 may be disposed perpendicular to each other in the electrode assembly 100. Also, the fold line of the second electrode 120 and the fold line of the separator 130 may be disposed parallel to each other in the electrode assembly 100. The fold line of the second electrode 120 and the fold line of the separator 130 may correspond to each other.

[0065] Specifically, the second electrode 120 may be coupled to the first electrode 110 and the separator 130 such that the long side a2 of the second coating portion 123 corresponds to the long side a1 of the first coating portion 113 and the long side a3 of the unit separator 133. The second electrode 120 may be coupled to the first electrode 110 and the separator 130 such that the short side b2 of the second coating portion 123 corresponds to the short side b1 of the first coating portion 113 and the short side b3 of the unit separator 133.

[0066] The second coating portions 123 of the second electrode 120 may be connected to each other with the second uncoated portion 121 sandwiched therebetween. Since the unit separator 133, the first coating portion 113, and the unit separator 133 are located between the two connected second coating portions 123, the second uncoated portion 121 may partially cover one side of the electrode assembly 100, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 which show one side and the opposite side of the electrode assembly 100.

[0067] In this manner, the electrode assembly 100 of the present embodiment has electrodes formed in both directions. tab The battery cell can be used for a battery cell that provides high output and high energy by including the first electrode 110 having the first and second electrodes 120 and 130. In addition, the entire process can be simplified by not cutting the first electrode 110, the second electrode 120, and the separator 130 into unit sizes, and the first coating portion 113 and the second coating portion 123 are connected through the first uncoated portion 111 and the second uncoated portion 121, thereby achieving high output.

[0068] A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

[0069] FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] Referring to FIG. 12, the method of manufacturing the electrode assembly of the present embodiment (S1000) includes: A step of preparing a first electrode 110, a second electrode 120, and a separator 130 (S1100); a step of combining a first electrode 110 and a separator 130 (S1200); and The method may include a step of combining a second electrode 120 with an assembly in which the first electrode 110 and the separator 130 are combined (S1300).

[0071] The preparing step (S1100) may include preparing the first electrode 110 as a rectangular sheet, preparing the separator 130 in the form of a rectangular sheet, and preparing the second electrode 120 in the form of a sheet cut to a predetermined size.

[0072] Here, the first electrode 110 may include a plurality of first coating portions 113 and a first uncoated portion 111 formed therebetween, and the second electrode 120 may include two second coating portions 123 and a second uncoated portion 121 formed therebetween. The separator 130 may include a plurality of unit separators 133. The first electrode 110, the second electrode 120, and the separator 130 prepared in the preparing step (S1100) may be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0073] The step of combining the first electrode 110 and the separator 130 (S1200) can be described with reference to the drawings of Figures 6 to 8. Here, the combining step (S1200) may include a step of disposing two stacked unit separators 130 between two stacked first coating portions 113, and an assembly in which the first electrode 110 and the separator 130 are combined can be formed by repeating the above step. Here, the first electrode 110 and the separator 130 can be combined vertically such that the long sides a1, a3 and the short sides b1, b3 of the first coating portion 113 and the unit separator 133 correspond to each other.

[0074] The step (S1300) of combining the second electrode 120 with the assembly in which the first electrode 110 and the separator 130 are combined can be described with reference to the above-mentioned FIGS.

[0075] Here, the step of bonding the second electrode 120 (S1300) may include a step of disposing the second coating portion 123 of the second electrode 120 between the two stacked unit separators 130, and the electrode assembly 100 of the present invention can be formed by repeating the above steps. Also, here, the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 may be bonded vertically such that the long sides a1, a2, a3 and the short sides b1, b2, b3 of the first coating portion 113, the second coating portion 123, and the unit separator 133 correspond to each other.

[0076] As described above, the method of manufacturing the electrode assembly 100 of the present embodiment can simplify the overall process by not cutting the first electrode 110, the second electrode 120, and the separator 130 into unit sizes. Also, the first coating portion 113 and the second coating portion 123 are connected through the first uncoated portion 111 and the second uncoated portion 121, so that the electrode assembly 100 having high output can be manufactured.

[0077] Meanwhile, the electrode assembly 100 of the present embodiment described above can be housed in a cell case together with an electrolyte to provide a battery cell.

[0078] The battery cell according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an electrode assembly 100 in which a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of separators are alternately stacked, an electrode extending from the plurality of electrodes, and a separator extending from the plurality of electrodes. tab and a cell case that seals the electrode assembly with one end of the electrode lead protruding from the cell case.

[0079] Meanwhile, the battery cells may be stacked in one direction to form a battery cell stack, and may be modularized as a battery module to form a battery pack together with a Battery Management System (BMS) for managing the temperature and voltage of the battery and / or a cooling device. The battery pack may be applied to various devices. For example, the device to which the battery pack is applied may be a means of transportation such as an electric bicycle, an electric car, or a hybrid car. However, the above-mentioned devices are not limited thereto, and the battery pack according to the present embodiment may be used in various devices other than the above examples, which also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0080] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 100: Electrode assembly 110: 1st electrode 111: First plain section 113: First coating section 120: 2nd electrode 121: Second plain section 123: Second coating section 130: Separation membrane 133: Unit separation membrane

Claims

1. An electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, The positive electrode or the negative electrode includes a coating portion to which an electrode active material is applied and a non-coated portion to which the electrode active material is not applied, one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode has a zigzag shape formed by folding a rectangular sheet in which the coating portions and the uncoated portions are alternately formed, the other electrode of the positive electrode or the negative electrode has a folder shape formed by folding a sheet having two coating portions sandwiching one uncoated portion, The electrode tabs of the zigzag electrode are formed in both directions, The electrode tab of the folder-shaped electrode is formed in one direction and is disposed perpendicular to the electrode tabs formed in both directions, the uncoated portions of the zigzag-shaped electrode and the folder-shaped electrode are the electrode tabs of the zigzag-shaped electrode and the folder-shaped electrode, The separation membrane has a zigzag shape formed by folding a long separation membrane sheet according to a predetermined unit length, the zigzag electrode and the separator have fold lines formed by folding, The zigzag shaped electrode fold lines are formed in the non-coated portion, The electrode assembly, wherein the fold lines of the electrode having the zigzag shape are disposed perpendicular to the fold lines of the separator.

2. The electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein a fold line formed on the folder-shaped electrode is arranged parallel to a fold line on the separator.

3. The separation membrane is divided into a plurality of unit separation membranes by folding, Two unit separators are disposed between two coating portions of the electrode having the zigzag shape, and two other unit separators are disposed between two other coating portions of the electrode having the zigzag shape, One of the two coating portions of the folder-shaped electrode is located between the two unit separators, The electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the other of the two coating portions of the folder-shaped electrode is located between the other two unit separators.

4. the coating portion has opposing long sides and opposing short sides, The zigzag-shaped uncoated portion of the electrode is located between the long sides of the coating portion, The electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the uncoated portion of the folder-shaped electrode is located between the short sides of the coating portion.

5. the coating portion has opposing long sides and opposing short sides, The electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the uncoated portion of the electrode having the zigzag shape is located between long sides of the coating portion.

6. The electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the folded portion of the separator is located between short sides of the separator.

7. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode having the zigzag shape is a positive electrode.

8. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode having the folder shape is a negative electrode.

9. The electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coating portion of the electrode is formed on both sides.

10. The electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coating portion of the electrode has four sides with the same length.

11. A battery cell comprising the electrode assembly according to claim 1.

Citation Information

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