Electrode assembly and manufacturing method thereof, battery cell, battery and power consuming device

Abstract

The present application provides an electrode assembly and a manufacturing method thereof, a battery cell, a battery, and a power consumption device. The electrode assembly includes a first plate, in which an active material layer and a viscous material layer are applied on both sides of the first plate along the plate thickness direction, and the active material layer and the viscous material layer on each side are arranged in parallel along the plate height direction, and a separator is installed on both sides of the first plate along the plate thickness direction and is stacked with the first plate, and when the electrode assembly is deployed, the separators on each side of the first plate are continuous whole structures, and the separators are connected to the first plate through the viscous material layers. By applying the viscous material layer to the first plate, the separator is adhered to the first plate through the viscous material layer, thereby fixing the positions of the separator and the first plate, and there is no need to apply an adhesive layer on the separator, which reduces costs and improves production efficiency.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of energy storage devices, and in particular to an electrode assembly and its manufacturing method, a battery cell, a battery and a power consuming device. [Background technology]

[0002] Energy saving and reducing pollutant emissions are the keys to the sustainable development of the automotive industry. In this context, electric vehicles have become an important part of the sustainable development of the automotive industry due to their advantages in energy saving and environmental protection. Battery technology is also a key factor in the development of electric vehicles. Therefore, in the battery production process, it is of great importance to reduce costs and improve production efficiency. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] In order to solve the above problems, the present application provides an electrode assembly and a manufacturing method thereof, a battery cell, a battery and a power consuming device, which can reduce costs and improve production efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] According to a first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, there is provided an electrode assembly, comprising: a first electrode plate, the first electrode plate having an active material layer and a viscous material layer applied on both sides along the thickness direction of the first electrode plate, the active material layer and the viscous material layer on each side being arranged in parallel along the height direction of the electrode plate, and separators arranged on both sides along the thickness direction of the first electrode plate and stacked with the first electrode plate, the separators on each side of the first electrode plate being a continuous whole structure when the electrode assembly is unfolded, and the separators are connected to the first electrode plate via the viscous material layers.

[0005] In the above technical solution, a viscous material layer is applied to the first plate, and the separator is adhered to the first plate through the viscous material layer, thereby fixing the positions of the separator and the first plate, so there is no need to apply an adhesive layer on the separator, which reduces costs and improves production efficiency.

[0006] In some embodiments, a viscous material layer is applied to both ends of a first electrode plate along the height direction of the electrode plate, and an active material layer is applied between the viscous material layers on both sides.

[0007] In the above technical solution, the viscous material layer is installed on both side ends along the height direction of the first plate, and the end positions of the first plate are adhered and fixed to the separator, thereby reducing the risk of the separator folding or wrinkling and ensuring the insulating function of the separator.

[0008] In some embodiments, one or more viscous material layers are further provided along the height direction of the electrode plate, spaced apart from each other between the viscous material layers on both sides, and an active material layer is coated between the two adjacent viscous material layers.

[0009] In the above technical solution, one viscous material layer is provided between the viscous material layers on both sides, which can reinforce the adhesive effect between the separator and the first electrode plate, and the production cost is relatively low and the production efficiency is high. A plurality of viscous material layers are provided between the viscous material layers on both sides, which can reinforce the adhesive effect between the separator and the first electrode plate, and at the same time, can improve the flatness of the separator and the first electrode plate. As a result, the risk of wrinkles occurring in the separator corresponding to the central position of the first electrode plate can be reduced, and the quality of the electrode assembly can be improved without increasing the overall thickness of the electrode assembly after stacking.

[0010] In some embodiments, the width of the viscous material layer along the height direction of the electrode plate is 2 to 20 mm, which can improve the adhesive strength along the height direction between the separator and the first electrode plate.

[0011] In some embodiments, the thickness of the viscous material layer in the thickness direction of the plate is equal to or greater than the thickness of the active material layer, so that the separator can be in contact with the viscous material layer when the separator is attached to the first plate, thereby allowing the viscous material layer to bond the separator.

[0012] In some embodiments, the thickness of the viscous material layer along the thickness direction of the plate is 25 to 120 μm.

[0013] In the above technical solution, by controlling the thickness of the viscous material layer, it is possible not only to ensure the adhesion between the separator and the viscous material layer, but also to guarantee the overall thickness of the first electrode plate, thereby effectively controlling the thickness of the electrode assembly.

[0014] In some embodiments, the viscous material layer is a hot melt adhesive layer that connects the separator with the first plate by thermal bonding.

[0015] In the above technical solution, after the viscous material layer is thermally combined, the hot melt adhesive exerts its effect to generate viscosity, thereby adhering the separator to the viscous material layer, thereby exerting an adhesive effect between the separator and the first electrode plate.

[0016] In some embodiments, the material of the viscous material layer is polypropylene, which can withstand the electrolyte and can bond the separator onto the first electrode plate under thermal composite action at a temperature of 70-90°C.

[0017] In some embodiments, the first plate includes a plurality of folded segments and a plurality of first laminated segments arranged in a stack, each folded segment connecting two adjacent first laminated segments and including a thinned or cut portion along a thickness of the plate to facilitate folding of the first plate.

[0018] In the above technical solution, the thinned portion and the cut portion are used to guide the first plate to generate a folding in the area of ​​the thinned portion when manufacturing the electrode assembly, to facilitate the lamination operation, thereby advantageously improving the controllability and accuracy of the folding position.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first plate is a positive plate. By bonding the positive plate to the separator as the first plate, the risk of the case corroding due to powdering of the positive active material can be reduced.

[0020] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly further includes a second plate having a polarity opposite to that of the first plate, the second plate including a plurality of second stacked segments, each second stacked segment being disposed between two adjacent first stacked segments when the electrode assembly is stacked.

[0021] In the above technical solution, the molded electrode assembly can better meet the usage requirements and optimize the electrical performance of the electrode assembly.

[0022] According to a second aspect of the present embodiment, there is provided a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, the method including the steps of: providing a first electrode plate, applying an active material layer and a viscous material layer to both sides of the first electrode plate in a thickness direction thereof, and disposing the active material layer and the viscous material layer adjacent to each other, providing a separator, disposing the separator on both sides of the first electrode plate in a thickness direction thereof and stacking the separator with the first electrode plate, and connecting the separator to the first electrode plate via the viscous material layer.

[0023] In some embodiments, the viscous material layer connects the separator with the first plate by thermal bonding.

[0024] In some embodiments, the step of providing a first plate includes forming a plurality of thinned portions on the first plate by scoring or laser ablation.

[0025] In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing the electrode assembly further includes stacking the separator with the first plate and folding it at the multiple thin-walled portions to form multiple first stacked segments that are stacked and positioned on the first plate with the multiple folded segments, each folded segment connecting two adjacent first stacked segments.

[0026] In some embodiments, the method of manufacturing an electrode assembly further includes providing a second plate and positioning the second plate between adjacent first stacked segments.

[0027] According to a third aspect of the present application, there is provided a battery cell, the battery cell including the electrode assembly of the first aspect, or including an electrode assembly manufactured using the manufacturing method for the electrode assembly of the second aspect.

[0028] According to a fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present application, there is provided a battery, the battery including a plurality of battery cells according to the third aspect.

[0029] According to a fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present application, there is provided a power consuming device, said power consuming device including a battery according to the fourth aspect, the battery being for providing electrical energy.

[0030] It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary only and are not restrictive of the present application. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0031] In order to more clearly describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings related to the embodiments of the present application. The drawings described below are only specific embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious that those skilled in the art can obtain other embodiments based on the following drawings without any creative efforts. [Figure 1] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle according to some embodiments of the present application. [Diagram 2]FIG. 1 is an exploded schematic diagram of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application. [Diagram 3] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic diagram of a battery cell according to some embodiments of the present application. [Diagram 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode assembly according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of a first electrode plate and a separator according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the first electrode plate in FIG. 6. [Figure 9] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of some further embodiments of FIG. 6. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the first electrode plate in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of part II in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of some embodiments of the present application after the first plate has been laminated. [Figure 13] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of part I in FIG. 5. [Figure 14] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode assembly according to some alternative embodiments of the present application. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first plate according to some further embodiments of the present application. [Figure 16] 6 is a schematic diagram of a connection structure between a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate and a separator in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 17] 1 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to one embodiment of the present application. These drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application, and are used together with the specification to interpret the principles of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] In order to make the technical solution of the present application better understood, the following describes in detail the embodiments of the present application with reference to the drawings.

[0033] It is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, but not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without any creative effort belong to the protection scope of the present application.

[0034] The terminology used in the examples of this application is for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to limit the application. As used in the examples of this application and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "said," and "the" are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context indicates otherwise.

[0035] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used herein merely describes the relation between related objects and indicates that three relations may exist, for example, A and / or B may represent three cases: A alone, A and B in combination, and B alone. Also, the character " / " in this specification generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relation.

[0036] It should be noted that directional terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", and "right" described in the embodiments of the present application are described in the directions shown in the drawings, and should not be understood as limitations of the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that when referring to an element being connected to "upper" or "lower" another element, it can be directly connected to "upper" or "lower" another element, but can also be indirectly connected to "upper" or "lower" another element via an intermediate element.

[0037] In this application, "plurality" refers to two or more (including two).

[0038] In the present application, the battery cell may include a lithium ion secondary battery, a lithium ion primary battery, a lithium sulfur battery, a sodium lithium ion battery, a sodium ion battery, or a magnesium ion battery, etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. The battery cell may have a cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or other shape, etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. Battery cells are generally divided into three types according to the packaging method, namely, a cylindrical battery cell, a rectangular battery cell, and a pouch battery cell, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0039] A battery in the embodiments of the present application refers to a single physical module that includes one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, a battery in the present application may include a battery module or a battery pack. A battery generally includes a housing for packaging one or more battery cells. The housing can prevent liquids or other substances from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

[0040] The battery cell includes an electrode assembly and an electrolyte, and the electrode assembly is composed of a negative electrode plate, a positive electrode plate, and a separator. The battery cell is operated mainly by the movement of metal ions between the negative electrode plate and the positive electrode plate. The negative electrode plate includes a negative electrode collector and a negative electrode active material layer, and the negative electrode active material layer is coated on the surface of the negative electrode collector, and the negative electrode collector not coated with the negative electrode active material layer protrudes from the negative electrode collector already coated with the negative electrode active material layer, and the negative electrode collector not coated with the negative electrode active material layer is called a negative electrode tab. The positive electrode active material layer is coated on the surface of the positive electrode collector, and the positive electrode collector not coated with the positive electrode active material layer protrudes from the positive electrode collector already coated with the positive electrode active material layer, and the positive electrode collector not coated with the positive electrode active material layer is called a positive electrode tab. In order to ensure that the cathode tabs will not melt even when a large current is passed through them, the cathode tabs are multiple in number and stacked, and the anode tabs are multiple in number and stacked.

[0041] The electrode assembly may have a wound structure or a stacked structure. The wound electrode assembly is an electrode assembly formed by winding a negative electrode plate, a positive electrode plate, and a separator interposed between the negative electrode plate and the positive electrode plate. However, the stacked electrode assembly may include a structure in which a plurality of individual negative electrode plates and a plurality of individual positive electrode plates and separators are alternately stacked, and a stacked electrode assembly may be formed by stacking one continuous overall electrode plate (anode electrode plate or cathode electrode plate) in a Z-shape with the negative electrode plate after attaching separators to both sides along the thickness direction of the electrode plate. In such a structure in which the separator completely covers the positive electrode plate, the separators on both sides in the thickness direction of the electrode plate are completely attached on the electrode plate, and the electrode plate is not displaced and the electrode plate does not contact the electrode plate. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent a short circuit, ensure the safety of the battery, and ensure sufficient performance of the battery capacity.

[0042] In a laminated electrode assembly, when a separator is attached to both sides of an electrode plate in the thickness direction, a separator that is entirely coated with an adhesive is generally used to attach the separator to both sides of the electrode plate in the thickness direction, and the adhesive layer of the separator is used to attach the separator to the electrode plate by utilizing its viscosity. However, the inventors discovered that when the adhesive is entirely coated on the separator, the cost is very high, which causes the overall cost of manufacturing the electrode assembly to be high, and when the adhesive is entirely coated on the separator, the production efficiency is relatively low.

[0043] In view of this, the embodiment of the present application provides a technical solution that does not require the application of adhesive to the separator, but applies an adhesive layer to the current collectors on both sides of the active material layer of the electrode plate along the height direction of the electrode plate, and adheres the separator to the adhesive layer on the current collector, thereby reducing costs and improving production efficiency. The embodiment of the present application is described in detail below.

[0044] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to batteries and power consuming devices.

[0045] The power consumption device may be a vehicle, a mobile phone, a portable device, a notebook computer, a steamer, a spacecraft, an electric toy, and an electric tool, etc. The vehicle may be a fuel oil vehicle, a gas vehicle, or a new energy vehicle, the new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a range extender vehicle, etc., the spacecraft includes an airplane, a rocket, a space shuttle, and a spaceship, etc., the electric toy includes a stationary or mobile electric toy, such as a game console, an electric car toy, an electric steamer toy, and an electric airplane toy, etc., and the electric tool includes a metal cutting electric tool, a polishing electric tool, an assembly electric tool, and a railway electric tool, such as an electric drill, an electric grinder, an electric wrench, an electric screwdriver, an electric hammer, a hammer drill, a concrete vibrator, and an electric planer, etc. The embodiment of the present application does not particularly limit the above power consumption device.

[0046] For convenience of explanation, the following embodiment will be described taking as an example an apparatus using a battery a vehicle.

[0047] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle 1 according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 1, a battery 2 is installed inside the vehicle 1. The battery 2 is a single physical module including one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery 2 in the present application may include a battery module or a battery pack. The battery 2 may be installed at the bottom, head, or tail of the vehicle 1. The battery 2 may be used to power the vehicle 1, for example, the battery 2 may be an operating power source for the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 may further include a controller 3 and a motor 4. The controller 3 is used to control the battery 2 to power the motor 4, for example, for the start-up, navigation, and operating power consumption needs during driving of the vehicle 1.

[0049] In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 2 can provide not only the operating power source for the vehicle 1, but also the propulsion power source for the vehicle 1, in place of, or in place of, fuel oil or natural gas.

[0050] FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic diagram of a battery 2 according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, the battery 2 includes a housing 5 and a battery cell 20 housed within the housing 5.

[0052] The housing 5 is used to house the battery cells 20. The housing 5 may have various structures. In some embodiments, the housing 5 may include a first housing portion 51 and a second housing portion 52. The first housing portion 51 and the second housing portion 52 are placed over each other to define a housing space 53 for housing the battery cells 20. The second housing portion 52 may have a hollow structure with one end open, and the first housing portion 51 may have a plate-like structure, and the first housing portion 51 is placed over the open side of the second housing portion 52 to form the housing 5 having the housing space 53. The first housing portion 51 and the second housing portion 52 may also have a hollow structure with one end open, and the open side of the first housing portion 51 is placed over the open side of the second housing portion 52 to form the housing 5 having the housing space 53. Of course, the first housing portion 51 and the second housing portion 52 may have various shapes, for example, a cylinder, a rectangular parallelepiped, etc.

[0053] In order to improve the sealing property after the first housing part 51 and the second housing part 52 are connected, a sealing material, such as a sealing rubber, a sealing ring, etc., may be installed between the first housing part 51 and the second housing part 52.

[0054] When the first housing part 51 is placed on top of the second housing part 52, the first housing part 51 may be referred to as an upper housing cover, and the second housing part 52 may be referred to as a lower housing.

[0055] In the battery 2, there are a plurality of battery cells 20. The plurality of battery cells 20 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel. A series-parallel connection means that the plurality of battery cells 20 may be connected in series or in parallel. The plurality of battery cells 20 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and then the whole consisting of the plurality of battery cells 20 may be housed in the housing 5. Of course, the plurality of battery cells 20 may first be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to form a battery group, and the plurality of battery groups may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to form a whole and housed in the housing 5.

[0056] FIG. 3 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery module 200 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0057] 3, each battery 2 may include a relatively large number of battery cells 20. Therefore, for ease of installation, the battery cells 20 may be installed in groups, and each group of battery cells 20 may constitute a battery module 200. The battery 2 may include multiple battery modules 200, which may be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel fashion.

[0058] FIG. 4 is an exploded schematic diagram of a battery cell 20 according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0059] 4, the battery cell 20 is the smallest unit for constructing the battery 2, and in some embodiments of the present application, the battery cell 20 may include a lithium ion secondary battery cell, a lithium ion primary battery cell, a lithium sulfur battery cell, a sodium lithium ion battery cell, a sodium ion battery cell, or a magnesium ion battery cell, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. The battery cell 20 may have a flat body, a rectangular parallelepiped, or other shape, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. For convenience of explanation, the following embodiments will be exemplified by the battery cells 20 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 4 , the battery cell 20 includes an end cap assembly 21, an electrode assembly 22, and a case 23. The case 23 is used to house the electrode assembly 22 within the case 23. The case 23 may have various shapes and sizes, and the shape of the case 23 may be determined according to the specific shape and size of the one or more electrode assemblies 22. In some embodiments, the case 23 is a hollow rectangular parallelepiped. In other embodiments, the case 23 may be cylindrical or other shapes. One end of the case 23 is an opening 231, and the end cap assembly 21 covers the opening 231 and is connected to the case 23 to form a closed cavity in which the electrode assembly 22 is placed. An electrolyte may be filled in the cavity. In some embodiments, the end cap assembly 21 includes an end cap 212. The end cap 212 is provided with an electrode terminal 211, and the electrode assembly 22 is provided with a tab 221, which may be used to electrically connect with the tab 221 so as to output the electric energy of the battery cell 20. A current collecting part may be provided correspondingly with each electrode terminal 211, and the current collecting part may be located between the end cap 212 and the tab 221, and the electrode terminal 211 and the tab 221 may realize an electric connection through the current collecting part. The end cap assembly 21 may further be provided with other functional members, for example, a pressure relief mechanism for releasing the internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 reaches a threshold value. The material of the case 23 and the end cap 212 may be various, for example, copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, etc.

[0061] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode assembly 22 according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0062] 5, the electrode assembly 22 in some embodiments of the present application includes a first electrode plate 222, a separator 223, and a second electrode plate 224. Here, the first electrode plate 222 and the separator 223 are each a continuous whole structure. In other embodiments, the first electrode plate 222 may be a plurality of separate electrode plates, and a continuous separator 223 may be installed on both sides of the plurality of electrodes along the thickness direction of the electrode plate.

[0063] The separators 223 on both sides are respectively installed on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 along the thickness direction, and the first electrode plate 222 and the separators 223 on both sides are folded back and forth multiple times. The first electrode plate 222 and the separators 223 on both sides are folded back and forth in an approximately Z-shape, and the second electrode plate 224 is installed between the adjacent first electrode plates 222 on both sides of the laminated structure, and the first electrode plate 222 and the second electrode plate 224 are separated by the separator 223 to form a laminated electrode assembly 22. The polarities of the first electrode plate 222 and the second electrode plate 224 are opposite, and when one of them is a cathode plate, the other is an anode plate. The separator 223 is a microporous membrane for separating the first electrode plate 222 and the second electrode plate 224, and is a polymer functional material having nanometer-order micropores. It is used to prevent the two plates from contacting each other and shorting out, and also allows electrolyte ions to pass through. The separator 223 may be a polyolefin microporous membrane made of polyolefin materials, including a polyethylene (PE) monolayer membrane, a polypropylene (PP) monolayer membrane, and a polyethylene-polypropylene composite multilayer microporous membrane.

[0064] In order to attach the separator 223 to both sides of the first electrode plate 222 in the thickness direction, a method of applying an adhesive to the entire separator 223 is generally adopted, and the separator 223 is attached to the first electrode plate 222 by the viscosity of the adhesive. However, when the adhesive is applied to the entire separator, the cost is very high, which causes the overall cost of manufacturing the electrode assembly 22 to be high, and the production efficiency of applying the adhesive to the entire separator 223 is relatively low.

[0065] In some techniques, in order to reduce costs, a separator 223 without adhesive is used, adhesive layers are applied to multiple locations on the active material layer of the first electrode plate 222, and the separator 223 is then attached to the adhesive layers to attach the separator 223 to the first electrode plate 222. However, this type of attachment method causes the capacity of some of the active material to be lost because the adhesive layer is applied directly onto the active material layer, and the thickness of the adhesive layer on the active material is difficult to control, affecting the overall thickness of the electrode assembly 22, and the adhesive layer is applied to multiple locations on the active material layer, resulting in relatively low production efficiency.

[0066] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an expanded first electrode plate 222 and a separator 223 according to some embodiments of the present application, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the first electrode plate 222 in FIG.

[0067] As shown in Figures 6 to 8, the electrode assembly 22 of the embodiment of the present application includes a first electrode plate 222 and a separator 223. An active material layer 2221 and a viscous material layer 2222 are applied to both sides of the first electrode plate 222 along the plate thickness direction W. The active material layer 2221 and the viscous material layer 2222 on each side are arranged in parallel along the plate height direction H. The separator 223 is arranged on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 along the plate thickness direction W, and is arranged in a stacked manner with the first electrode plate 222. The dashed frame in Figure 6 represents the outline of the first electrode plate 222. When the electrode assembly 22 is unfolded, the separator 223 on each side of the first electrode plate 222 is a continuous whole structure, and the separator 223 is connected to the first electrode plate 222 through the viscous material layer 2222.

[0068] 7 and 8, in some embodiments, the first plate 222 includes a current collector 2224, a first tab 2223 extending from one side end of the current collector 2224 along the plate height direction H, and an active material layer 2221 and a viscous material layer 2222 coated on the current collector 2224. The active material layer 2221 and the viscous material layer 2222 are coated on both sides of the current collector 2224 along the plate thickness direction W. The viscous material layer 2222 and the active material layer 2221 are adjacent and arranged in parallel along the plate height direction H, and the viscous material layer 2222 may extend along the plate length direction L and penetrate the entire length of the first plate 222. The viscous material layers 2222 and the active material layers 2221 are arranged parallel to each other along the plate length direction L. The number of the viscous material layers 2222 is at least one. When there are a plurality of the viscous material layers 2222, the viscous material layers 2222 and the active material layers 2221 may be arranged alternately.

[0069] The current collector 2224 has two surfaces facing each other along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate, and the active material layer 2221 and the viscous material layer 2222 may be applied to either of the two surfaces. In one specific example, when the first electrode plate 222 is a positive electrode plate, the material of the current collector 2224 is a metal material such as copper or a copper alloy. When the first electrode plate 222 is a negative electrode plate, the material of the current collector 2224 is a metal material such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0070] The active material layer 2221 is applied on two opposing surfaces of the first electrode plate 222 along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate. The active material layer 2221 can generate an electrochemical reaction to generate electric energy in the process of charging and discharging the battery 2. When the first electrode plate 222 is a positive electrode plate, the material of the active material layer 2221 may include, but is not limited to, carbon or silicon. When the first electrode plate 222 is a negative electrode plate, the material of the active material layer 2221 may include, but is not limited to, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, lithium manganate, etc.

[0071] The viscous material layer 2222 is applied on two opposing surfaces of the first electrode plate 222 along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate, and is made of a material having a certain adhesiveness. The viscous material layer 2222 can adhere the separator 223 onto the first electrode plate 222 under certain conditions. In some embodiments, the viscous material layer 2222 is a hot melt adhesive layer, and adheres the separator 223 onto the first electrode plate 222 by thermal bonding.

[0072] In some embodiments, a separator 223 that is entirely continuous is disposed on both sides of the first plate 222 along the plate thickness direction W. The separators 223 are disposed in pairs, and the first plate 222 is disposed between the two separators 223. The overall size of the separator 223 is larger than the overall size of the first plate 222. The first plate 222 is completely enclosed inside the separators 223 on both sides, so that the first plate 222 and the second plate 224 can be sufficiently isolated and insulated from each other after the electrode assembly 22 is formed.

[0073] When manufacturing the electrode assembly 22, two whole separators 223 are respectively installed on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 along the electrode thickness direction W, and the first electrode plate 222 is installed between the two separators 223. Furthermore, the two separators 223 are respectively bonded onto the corresponding viscous material layers 2222 on both sides of the first electrode plate 222, so that the separator 223 is attached to the first electrode plate 222, and the positions of the separator 223 and the first electrode plate 222 are fixed.

[0074] After the separators 223 are installed on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate, the separators 223 may be folded back and forth multiple times together with the first electrode plate 222, and the first electrode plate 222 and the separators 223 on both sides may be folded back and forth into a substantially Z-shape to form the electrode assembly 22. A plurality of first tabs 2223 are provided at intervals on one end of the current collector 2224 along the height direction H of the electrode plate. The first tabs 2223 extend outward from the current collector 2224 and protrude from the viscous material layer 2222 on this side. When the first electrode plates 222 are stacked in a Z-shape, the plurality of first tabs 2223 overlap to form a tab 221 with a multi-tab structure, which is electrically connected to the electrode terminal 211.

[0075] The multiple dashed lines X in FIG. 8 do not represent the actual objects, but merely show schematic folding positions where the first electrode plate 222 and the separator 223 are stacked in a Z-shape, and these folding positions are folding regions having a certain width.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the viscous material layer 2222 is applied to both side ends of the current collector 2224 along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate, and the separator 223 is adhered to the first electrode plate 222 via the viscous material layer 2222. This fixes the positions of the separator 223 and the first electrode plate 222. Therefore, there is no need to apply an adhesive layer on the separator 223, which reduces costs and improves production efficiency.

[0077] In some techniques, the separator 223 is attached to the first plate 222 by applying adhesive layers to multiple locations on the active material layer 2221 of the first plate 222 and then adhering the separator 223 onto the adhesive layers. However, this type of attachment method applies the adhesive layer directly onto the active material layer 2221, which can cause some of the active material to lose its capacity.

[0078] 7 and 8, in some embodiments, to avoid the viscous material layer 2222 being applied onto the active material layer 2221, the viscous material layer 2222 is applied to both side ends of the first electrode plate 222 along the height direction H of the electrode plate, and the active material layer 2221 is applied between the viscous material layers 2222 on both sides.

[0079] A viscous material layer 2222 is applied to both side ends of the current collector 2224, but the viscous material layer 2222 and the active material layer 2221 do not overlap when projected in the thickness direction W of the electrode plate.

[0080] The viscous material layer 2222 and the active material layer 2221 are both directly applied on the current collector 2224 and arranged in parallel. The viscous material layer 2222 does not cover the active material layer 2221, and therefore does not affect the capacity of the active material layer 2221 and does not increase the overall thickness of the first electrode plate 222. The viscous material layer 2222 is arranged on both side ends of the first electrode plate 222 along the height direction H, and adheres and fixes the end positions of the first electrode plate 222 to the separator 223. This reduces the risk of folding or wrinkling the separator 223 and ensures the insulating effect of the separator 223.

[0081] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of some other embodiments of FIG. 6, and FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the first electrode plate 222 in FIG.

[0082] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, in some embodiments, one or more viscous material layers 2222 are further provided along the height direction H of the electrode plate, spaced apart from each other between the viscous material layers 2222 at both ends, and an active material layer 2221 is coated between two adjacent viscous material layers 2222.

[0083] The viscous material layer 2222 is applied to both ends of the first electrode plate 222 along the height direction H of the electrode plate. For the first electrode plate 222 having a relatively high height, at least one viscous material layer 2222 may be disposed between the viscous material layers 2222 at both ends in order to reinforce the adhesive effect between the separator 223 and the first electrode plate 222. The at least one viscous material layer 2222 is uniformly distributed between the viscous material layers 2222 at both ends (i.e., at the center position of the first electrode plate 222). Each viscous material layer 2222 is disposed adjacent to and parallel to the active material layer 2221, respectively, and does not overlap with the projection of the active material layer 2221 along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate, that is, the viscous material layer 2222 and the active material layer 2221 do not cover each other. Each viscous material layer 2222 and each active material layer 2221 are disposed parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction L of the electrode plate. The number of the viscous material layers 2222 is at least one. When there are a plurality of the viscous material layers 2222, the viscous material layers 2222 may be arranged alternately with the active material layers 2221.

[0084] By providing one viscous material layer 2222 at the center position, the adhesive effect between the separator 223 and the first electrode plate 222 can be reinforced, and the production cost can be relatively lowered and the production efficiency can be increased. By providing a plurality of viscous material layers 2222 at the center position, the adhesive effect between the separator 223 and the first electrode plate 222 can be reinforced, and at the same time, the flatness of the separator 223 and the first electrode plate 222 can be improved, and the risk of wrinkles occurring in the separator 223 corresponding to the center position of the first electrode plate 222 can be reduced. As a result, the overall thickness of the electrode assembly 22 after lamination is not increased, and the quality of the electrode assembly 22 can be improved.

[0085] In some embodiments, the width of the viscous material layer 2222 along the height direction H of the electrode plate is 2 to 20 mm. The viscous material layer 2222 may extend along the longitudinal direction L of the electrode plate and penetrate the entire length of the first electrode plate 222, so that the adhesive strength between the separator 223 and the first electrode plate 222 along the longitudinal direction L of the electrode plate can be guaranteed. However, since each viscous material layer 2222 is disposed at intervals along the height direction H of the electrode plate, and the active material layer 2221 is disposed between two adjacent viscous material layers 2222, and the separator 223 does not have viscosity, the active material layer 2221 in the first electrode plate 222 and the corresponding separator 223 are not adhered and fixed. Therefore, by making the width of each viscous material layer 2222 along the height direction H of the electrode plate 222 to 20 mm, the adhesive strength between the separator 223 and the first electrode plate 222 along the height direction H of the electrode plate can be improved.

[0086] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of part II in FIG.

[0087] 11, in some embodiments, the thickness a1 of the viscous material layer 2222 along the thickness direction W of the plate is equal to or greater than the thickness a2 of the active material layer 2221. Therefore, when the separator 223 is attached to the first plate 222, it is possible to ensure that the separator 223 and the viscous material layer 2222 are in contact with each other, so that the viscous material layer 2222 can exert an adhesive effect on the separator 223.

[0088] In some embodiments, the thickness a1 of the viscous material layer 2222 along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate is 25 to 120 μm. By controlling the thickness of the viscous material layer 2222, it is possible not only to ensure the adhesion between the separator 223 and the viscous material layer 2222, but also to ensure the overall thickness of the first electrode plate 222, thereby effectively controlling the thickness of the electrode assembly 22.

[0089] In some embodiments, the viscous material layer 2222 is a hot melt adhesive layer. The hot melt adhesive layer connects the separator 223 to the first plate 222 through thermal bonding. The hot melt adhesive exerts its effect through the thermal bonding of the viscous material layer 2222 to generate viscosity, and the separator 223 adheres to the viscous material layer 2222, thereby achieving the bonding effect between the separator 223 and the first plate 222.

[0090] In some embodiments, the material of the viscous material layer 2222 is polypropylene. Since polypropylene can withstand the electrolyte, the separator 223 can be bonded onto the first electrode plate 222 by thermal compound action at a temperature of 70 to 90°C.

[0091] A viscous material layer 2222 is applied to both ends and a central position along the height direction H of the current collector 2224 of the first electrode plate 222, and the separator 223 is bonded onto the first electrode plate 222. Therefore, it is not necessary to apply an adhesive layer to the entire surface of the separator 223, which reduces production costs and improves production efficiency. Both ends of the first electrode plate 222 along the height direction H of the electrode plate are bonded to the separator 223 to connect them, and the first electrode plate 222 and the separator 223 are stacked in a Z-shape, and then the separator 223 is folded back. This makes it possible to avoid the first electrode plate 222 coming into contact with the second electrode plate 224, and to reduce the risk of the electrode assembly 22 being short-circuited.

[0092] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of some embodiments of the present application after the first electrode plate 222 has been laminated, and FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of part I in FIG.

[0093] 5, 12, and 13, in some embodiments, the first plate 222 includes a plurality of folded segments 2225 and a plurality of first stacked segments 2226 arranged in a stack, with each folded segment 2225 connecting two adjacent first stacked segments 2226. Along the plate thickness direction W, the folded segments 2225 include thinned portions 22251 or cut portions 22252 (FIG. 14) to facilitate folding of the first plate 222.

[0094] The plurality of folded segments 2225 in Fig. 12 correspond to the positions of the plurality of dashed lines X in Fig. 8 and Fig. 10 after unfolding. Fig. 8, Fig. 10 and Fig. 12 only exemplarily illustrate the structure of the first electrode plate 222, and the specific number of folded segments 2225 and first laminated segments 2226 may be set according to the size and specifications of the electrode assembly 22, and the present application is not specifically limited thereto.

[0095] 5 and 12 is a single continuous whole structure, and when manufacturing the electrode assembly, first, a single continuous whole separator 223 is attached to each side of the first plate 222 along the plate thickness direction W. Then, the separator 223 and the viscous material layer 2222 are thermally combined to bond and connect the separator 223 to the first plate 222. When the first plate 222 is stacked in a Z-shape, the first plate 222 and the separators 223 on both sides are folded at the positions of the dashed lines X to form folded segments 2225 in the first plate 222.

[0096] 13, the folding segments 2225 include thin portions 22251. The number of thin portions 22251 may be the same as the number of folding segments 2225. Of all the folding segments 2225, some of the folding segments 2225 may have thin portions 22251, and other folding segments 2225 may not have thin portions 22251.

[0097] The thin portion 22251 may be a groove provided on the first electrode plate 222. This groove may be formed by removing a part of the active material layer on the first electrode plate 222. In one example, the cross-sectional shape of the thin portion 22251 perpendicular to the thickness direction W of the electrode plate is V-shaped, but the cross-sectional shape of the thin portion 22251 is not limited to V-shaped and may be U-shaped or rectangular, etc.

[0098] One of the two adjacent thin portions 22251 is located on one surface along the thickness direction W of the first electrode plate 222, and the other is located on a surface away from this surface. This allows the first electrode plate 222 to be folded back and forth in a Z shape.

[0099] The thin portion 22251 is used to facilitate a lamination operation by guiding the first electrode plate 222 to bend at the region of the thin portion 22251 when manufacturing the electrode assembly 22. Since the thin portion 22251 is thinner than the first electrode plate 222, the first electrode plate 222 is more likely to bend at the thin portion 22251. This is therefore advantageous in improving the controllability and accuracy of the bending position.

[0100] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode assembly 22 according to some further embodiments of the present application, and FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a first electrode plate 222 according to some further embodiments of the present application.

[0101] As shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 , in some other embodiments, the bent segment 2225 of the first electrode plate 222 includes a cut portion 22252. The cut portion 22252 divides the first electrode plate 222 into a plurality of spaced apart first stacked segments 2226 in an unfolded state. When manufacturing the electrode assembly 22, the plurality of first stacked segments 2226 are attached to a single overall separator 223 at intervals. The interval between the plurality of first stacked segments 2226 is the width of a single cut portion 22252. Furthermore, a single overall separator 223 is attached to the side of the plurality of first stacked segments 2226 to which the separator 223 is not attached, and the plurality of first stacked segments 2226 are placed between the two layers of separators 223. After the first plate 222 is completely placed between the separators 223 on both sides, the separator 223 and the viscous material layer 2222 on each first stacked segment 2226 are thermally bonded to bond the separator 223 to all the first stacked segments 2226, thereby realizing a fixed connection between the first plate 222 and the separator 223. Thereafter, the separator 223 and the first stacked segments 2226 are further folded back and forth at the positions of the cut portions 22252, so that the separator 223 is stacked and installed together with the first stacked segments 2226.

[0102] The cutting portion 22252 is used to facilitate the lamination operation by guiding the separator 223 and the plurality of first stacked segments 2226 to be folded at the position of the cutting portion 22252 when manufacturing the electrode assembly 22. Furthermore, the cutting portion 22252 divides the first electrode plate 222 into the plurality of first stacked segments 2226 that are spaced apart from each other. Therefore, by accurately controlling the size of the first stacked segments 2226, it is advantageous to improve the controllability and accuracy of the folding position.

[0103] In some embodiments, the first electrode plate 222 is an anode plate. The current collector material of the anode plate is a metal material such as copper or a copper alloy, and a layer of anode active material is coated on the current collector of the anode plate. The anode active material may be a material such as carbon or silicon. Due to the characteristics of the anode active material material, it is easy to cause powdering during the operation of the electrode assembly 22. By bonding and connecting the anode plate as the first electrode plate 222 with the separator 223, the risk of corrosion of the case 23 due to powdering of the anode active material can be reduced.

[0104] 5 and 14, in some embodiments, the electrode assembly 22 further includes a second plate 224 having a polarity opposite to that of the first plate 222. When the first plate 222 is an anode plate, the second plate 224 is a cathode plate. The second plate 224 includes a plurality of second stacked segments 2241, and in a stacked state of the electrode assembly 22, each second stacked segment 2241 is disposed between two adjacent first stacked segments 2226.

[0105] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a connection structure of the first electrode plate 222, the second electrode plate 224, and the separator 223 in the electrode assembly 22 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 in an expanded state.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 16, when the electrode assembly 22 is manufactured, the separators 223 are installed on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 in the thickness direction W. Thus, the pair of separators 223 sandwich the first electrode plate 222 together. Next, the separators 223 on both sides and the viscous material layer 2222 of the first electrode plate 222 are thermally combined to bond and connect the separator 223 to the first electrode plate 222. In one example, after the separator 223 is installed on the first electrode plate 222, the second stacked segment 2241 of the second electrode plate 224 is attached on the separator 223. For example, the second stacked segment 2241 and the separator 223 may be connected by hot pressing, electrophoresis, or adhesion. One of two adjacent second stacked segments 2241 is connected to one of the separators 223 arranged in a pair, and the other is connected to the other of the separators 223 arranged in a pair, so that the two adjacent second stacked segments 2241 are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the first electrode plate 222. The first stacked segment 2226 and the second stacked segment 2241 are arranged correspondingly to each other along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate. The first electrode plate 222, the second electrode plate 224 and the separator 223 are folded back and forth together to form a stacked electrode assembly 22. Through the above arrangement, the formed electrode assembly 22 can better meet the usage requirements and optimize the electrical performance of the electrode assembly 22.

[0107] FIG. 17 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly in one embodiment of the present application.

[0108] As shown in FIG. 17, an embodiment of the present application further provides a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, the method including the following steps:

[0109] Step S1, provide a first electrode plate 222. In some embodiments, the first electrode plate 222 may be a positive electrode plate.

[0110] In step S2, an active material layer 2221 and a viscous material layer 2222 are applied to both sides of the first electrode plate 222 in the thickness direction W of the electrode plate, and the active material layer 2221 and the viscous material layer 2222 are disposed adjacent to each other.

[0111] Step S3, providing a separator 223. The separator 223 may be a continuous integral structure.

[0112] In step S4, the separators 223 are disposed on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 in the thickness direction W, and are stacked on the first electrode plate 222.

[0113] In step S5, the separator 223 is connected to the first electrode plate 222 via the viscous material layer 2222.

[0114] In some embodiments, the viscous material layer 2222 connects the separator 223 with the first plate 222 by thermal bonding.

[0115] In some embodiments, step S1 of providing a first plate includes forming a plurality of thinned portions 22251 on the first plate 222 by scoring or laser ablation. The first plate 222 is scored or laser cut to remove a portion of material of the first plate 222. The removed portion of material may be active material or current collector material, thereby making the thinned portions 22251 thinner than other portions of the first plate 222.

[0116] In some embodiments, the method of manufacturing the electrode assembly further includes stacking the separator 223 with the first plate 222 and folding it at the thinned portions 22251 to have the first plate 222 have a plurality of first stacked segments 2226 stacked with the plurality of folded segments 2225. Each folded segment 2225 connects two adjacent first stacked segments 2226.

[0117] In some embodiments, the method of manufacturing the electrode assembly further includes providing a second plate 224 and positioning the second plate 224 between adjacent first stacked segments 2226 .

[0118] In the manufacturing method of the electrode assembly of the present application, a viscous material layer 2222 is applied to both side ends of the current collector 2224 along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate, and the separator 223 is adhered to the first electrode plate 222 via the viscous material layer 2222, thereby fixing the positions of the separator 223 and the first electrode plate 222. This eliminates the need to apply an adhesive layer on the separator 223, reducing costs and improving production efficiency.

[0119] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application, and is not intended to limit the present application. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 1-Vehicle 2-battery 3-Controller 4-Motor 5- Enclosure 51 - First housing part 52-Second housing part 53-Containment Space 20-Battery Cell 200-battery module 21-End Cap Assembly 211-electrode terminal 212-End Cap 22-Electrode Assembly 221-Tab 222-First plate 2221-Active material layer 2222-Viscous material layer 2223-First tab 2224-Current collector 2225-Bend Segment 22251-Thin section 22252-Cutting section 2226-First stacked segment 223-Separator 224-Second electrode plate 2241-Second stacked segment 23-Case 231-Aperture

Claims

1. An electrode assembly, comprising: A first electrode plate, in which an active material layer and a viscous material layer are applied to both sides of the first electrode plate along a thickness direction thereof, and the active material layer and the viscous material layer on each side are arranged in parallel along a height direction of the electrode plate; A separator is provided on both sides of the first electrode plate in a thickness direction and is laminated with the first electrode plate, In an unfolded state of the electrode assembly, the separator on each side of the first plate is a continuous integral structure, and the separator is connected to the first plate via the viscous material layer; The viscous material layer is applied to both side ends of the first electrode plate along a height direction, and the active material layer is applied between the viscous material layers at both side ends, The viscous material layer is further provided along the height direction of the electrode plate at one or more intervals between the viscous material layers on both sides, and the active material layer is coated between two adjacent viscous material layers. Electrode assembly.

2. 2. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the width of the viscous material layer along the height direction of the electrode plate is 2 to 20 mm.

3. 3. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the viscous material layer in the thickness direction of the electrode plate is equal to or greater than the thickness of the active material layer.

4. 4. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the viscous material layer in the thickness direction of the electrode plate is 25 to 120 μm.

5. 5. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the viscous material layer is a hot melt adhesive layer, and the hot melt adhesive layer connects the separator with the first electrode plate by thermal bonding.

6. 6. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the material of the viscous material layer is polypropylene.

7. An electrode assembly, comprising: A first electrode plate, in which an active material layer and a viscous material layer are applied to both sides of the first electrode plate along a thickness direction thereof, and the active material layer and the viscous material layer on each side are arranged in parallel along a height direction of the electrode plate; A separator is provided on both sides of the first electrode plate in a thickness direction and is laminated with the first electrode plate, In an unfolded state of the electrode assembly, the separator on each side of the first plate is a continuous integral structure, and the separator is connected to the first plate via the viscous material layer; The first plate includes a plurality of folded segments and a plurality of first stacked segments arranged in a stacked manner; each of the folding segments connects two adjacent first stacked segments and includes a thinned or cut portion along a thickness direction of the plate to facilitate folding of the first plate.

8. 8. The electrode assembly of claim 1, wherein the first plate is a positive plate.

9. further comprising a second plate having a polarity opposite to that of the first plate; the second plate includes a plurality of second laminated segments; The electrode assembly according to claim 7 , wherein in a stacked state of the electrode assembly, each of the second stacked segments is disposed between two adjacent ones of the first stacked segments.

10. 1. A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, comprising: providing a first electrode plate, coating an active material layer and a viscous material layer on both sides of the first electrode plate along a thickness direction, disposing the active material layer and the viscous material layer adjacent to each other, coating the viscous material layer on both side ends of the first electrode plate along a height direction, coating the active material layer between the viscous material layers at both side ends, providing the viscous material layer along a height direction of the electrode plate with one or more intervals between the viscous material layers on both sides, and coating the active material layer between two adjacent viscous material layers; providing a separator, and disposing the separator on both sides of the first plate in a thickness direction and stacked with the first plate; and connecting the separator to the first plate through the viscous material layer. A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly.

11. A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a first plate, applying an active material layer and a viscous material layer to both sides of the first plate along a thickness direction, and placing the active material layer and the viscous material layer adjacent to each other, the first plate including a plurality of folded segments and a plurality of first stacked segments stacked and placed, each folded segment connecting two adjacent first stacked segments and including a thinned portion or cut portion along the thickness direction of the plate for facilitating folding of the first plate; providing a separator, and disposing the separator on both sides of the first plate in a thickness direction and stacked with the first plate; and connecting the separator to the first plate through the viscous material layer. A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly.

12. The method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the viscous material layer connects the separator with the first plate by thermal bonding.

13. In the step of providing a first plate, 13. The method of claim 11 or 12, comprising forming a plurality of thinned portions on the first plate by cutting or laser ablation.

14. The method further includes stacking the separator with the first plate and folding the separator at the thinned portions to provide the first plate with a plurality of first stacked segments stacked with the plurality of folded segments; The method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to claim 13 , wherein each of the folded segments connects two adjacent of the first laminated segments.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a second plate and positioning the second plate between adjacent ones of the first stacked segments.

16. A battery cell comprising an electrode assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

17. A battery comprising at least one battery cell as defined in claim 16.

18. A power consuming device comprising the battery of claim 17, the battery being for providing electrical energy.

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