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

Abstract

The present application provides an electrode assembly and its manufacturing method, a battery cell, a battery and a power consumption device, the electrode assembly including a first plate and a separator disposed on both sides of the first plate along the thickness direction of the plate and stacked with the first plate, in a state where the electrode assembly is unfolded, the separator has a first edge portion extending beyond the end of the first plate along the longitudinal direction of the separator, the separator has a second edge portion extending beyond the end of the first plate along the height direction of the separator, the first edge portion corresponding to both sides of the first plate along the thickness direction of the plate is at least partially heat-sealed to form a first heat-sealed segment, and the second edge portion corresponding to both sides of the first plate is at least partially heat-sealed to form a second heat-sealed segment. The technical solution of the present application can enhance the electrochemical performance of the battery and improve the safety and reliability of the battery.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to the field of energy storage devices, and in particular to electrode assemblies and methods for manufacturing the same, battery cells, batteries and power consuming devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Energy conservation and reduced pollutant emissions are key to the sustainable development of the automotive industry. Electric vehicles, with their energy-saving and environmentally friendly advantages, have become an important component of this industry. Battery technology is also a key factor in the development of electric vehicles. It is crucial to protect batteries from short circuits during use, enhance their electrochemical performance, and improve their safety and reliability. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] To solve the above problems, the present application provides an electrode assembly and its manufacturing method, a battery cell, a battery and a power consuming device, which can enhance the electrochemical performance of the battery and improve the safety and reliability of the battery.

[0004] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present application, there is provided an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including a first electrode plate and separators disposed on both sides of the first electrode plate along a thickness direction of the electrode plate and stacked on the first electrode plate, wherein, when the electrode assembly is unfolded, the separator has a first edge portion extending beyond an end of the first electrode plate along the longitudinal direction of the separator, and a second edge portion extending beyond the end of the first electrode plate along the height direction of the separator, the first edge portions corresponding to both sides of the first electrode plate along the thickness direction of the electrode plate are at least partially heat-sealed to form a first heat-sealed segment, and the second edge portions corresponding to both sides of the first electrode plate are at least partially heat-sealed to form a second heat-sealed segment.

[0005] In the above technical solution, the first and second edges of the first electrode plate are at least partially heat-sealed to close or partially close the first electrode plate to the separator, and after the first electrode plate and the separator are stacked together in a Z-shape, the separator is folded back to prevent the first electrode plate from contacting the second electrode plate, reducing the risk of short-circuiting the electrode assembly. Furthermore, the separators on both sides of the first electrode plate are already heat-sealed before being stacked into the electrode assembly, eliminating the need to heat-seal the protruding portions of the separators after stacking, improving production efficiency and preventing the separator from shrinking or being damaged due to excessive heat sealing.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first electrode plate includes a plurality of folded segments and a plurality of first stacked segments arranged in a stack, each folded segment connecting two adjacent first stacked segments and extending along the longitudinal direction of the separator when the electrode assembly is in an unfolded state, and the second heat-sealed segments are arranged at intervals corresponding to the positions of the folded segments.

[0007] In the above technical proposal, the second edge portion corresponding to the folded segment is heat-sealed as a second heat-sealed segment, and when a stacking operation is performed, the second edge portion corresponding to the folded segment does not wrinkle or fold back due to the reciprocating folding operation, thereby reducing the risk of short-circuiting the electrode assembly.

[0008] In some embodiments, the length of the second heat sealed segment is greater than the length of the folded segment along the length of the separator.

[0009] In the above technical solution, the entire folded segment is enclosed within the second heat-sealed segment, and no exposed portion exists. Thus, when performing the lamination operation, the second edge portion of the folded segment corresponding to the separator's longitudinal direction is not folded back, and there is no risk of the folded segment being exposed.

[0010] In some embodiments, the second heat-sealed segment is symmetrically positioned relative to the folded segment along the height of the separator.

[0011] In the above technical solution, both ends of the folded segment along the height direction of the separator are completely sealed within the separator by the second heat-sealed segment, and the second edge portions of the folded segment corresponding to both sides along the height direction of the separator are folded back, so there is no risk of the folded segment being exposed.

[0012] In some embodiments, along the thickness of the plate, the fold segment includes a thinned portion or cut to facilitate the first plate fold.

[0013] In some embodiments, when the folded segment includes a thin-walled portion, the length of the second heat-sealed segment along the longitudinal direction of the separator is 3 to 50 mm.

[0014] The above technical solution can realize the closure of the thin-walled portion and reduce the risk of the second edge portion being folded back.

[0015] In some embodiments, when the folded segment includes a cut portion, the length of the second heat-sealed segment along the longitudinal direction of the separator is 5 to 50 mm.

[0016] The above technical solution can achieve full or partial closure of both ends of the cut portion along the longitudinal direction of the separator, thereby reducing the risk of the second edge portion corresponding to the cut portion being folded back.

[0017] In some embodiments, one edge of the first plate along the height of the separator has a first tab protruding from the separator, and the second heat-sealed segment avoids the first tab.

[0018] In the above technical solution, the second edge portions of the first electrode plate on both sides along the thickness direction of the electrode plate can be heat-sealed.

[0019] In some embodiments, the second edge portions on both sides of the first plate along the thickness direction of the plate, in areas avoiding the first tab, are all heat-sealed to form a second heat-sealed segment.

[0020] In the above technical solution, because the separator itself is viscous, the second edge portion and the first tab are bonded together, so that the end of the first plate having one side of the first tab along the height direction of the separator is completely enclosed within the separator on both sides along the thickness direction of the plate, and the second edge portion on this side is folded back, reducing the risk of the electrode assembly short-circuiting.

[0021] In some embodiments, first edge portions of the first plate on both sides along the thickness direction of the plate are all heat-sealed to form a first heat-sealed segment.

[0022] In the above technical solution, all of the first edge portions corresponding to both sides along the thickness direction of the electrode plate are heat-sealed, which can sufficiently reduce the risk of the electrode assembly being short-circuited due to all of the first edge portions being folded back.

[0023] In some embodiments, the first heat-sealed segment has a length of 1 to 5 mm along the longitudinal direction of the separator, and the second heat-sealed segment has a height of 1 to 5 mm along the height direction of the separator.

[0024] The above technical solution can ensure the strength of the first heat-sealed segment and the second heat-sealed segment, and reduce the risk of cracking during lamination.

[0025] In some embodiments, the first plate is a positive plate.

[0026] In the above technical solution, the positive electrode plate is enclosed in the separator as the first electrode plate, which can reduce the risk of the case corroding due to the powder falling off of the positive electrode active material.

[0027] 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, and in the stacked state of the electrode assembly, each second stacked segment is disposed between two adjacent first stacked segments.

[0028] In the above technical solution, the molded electrode assembly can better meet the application requirements and optimize the electrical performance of the electrode assembly.

[0029] According to a second aspect of an embodiment of the present application, there is provided a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, the method comprising the steps of providing a first electrode plate, providing a separator, and placing the separator on both sides of the first electrode plate along a thickness direction of the electrode plate and stacking the separator on the first electrode plate, wherein the separator has a first edge portion extending beyond an end of the first electrode plate along the longitudinal direction of the separator, and a second edge portion extending beyond the end of the first electrode plate along the height direction of the separator, and along the thickness direction of the electrode plate, the first edge portions corresponding to both sides of the first electrode plate are at least partially heat-sealed to form a first heat-sealed segment, and the second edge portions corresponding to both sides of the first electrode plate are at least partially heat-sealed to form a second heat-sealed segment.

[0030] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is manufactured by heat-sealing the electrode assembly using a hot press method.

[0031] In some embodiments, the step of providing a first plate includes forming a plurality of thinned portions in the first plate by scoring or laser cleaning.

[0032] In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing the electrode assembly further includes stacking the separator together with the first electrode plate, folding the plurality of thin-walled portions to form a plurality of folded segments, and forming a plurality of first stacked segments stacked and positioned between the plurality of folded segments.

[0033] In some embodiments, the method of manufacturing an electrode assembly further includes providing a second electrode plate and placing the second electrode plate between adjacent first stacked segments that are placed in a stack.

[0034] 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 electrode assembly manufacturing method of the second aspect.

[0035] 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.

[0036] According to a fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present application, there is provided a power consuming device, said power consuming device comprising a battery for providing electrical energy according to the fourth aspect.

[0037] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary only and are not restrictive of the present application. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0038] In order to more clearly explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings that need to be used in the embodiments of the present application. It is clear that the drawings described below are only specific embodiments of the present application, and that those skilled in the art can obtain other embodiments based on the following drawings without exerting any creative efforts. [Figure 1] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery explosion according to some embodiments of the present application; [Figure 3] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery cell explosion according to some embodiments of the present application; [Figure 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode assembly according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first electrode plate and a separator deployed according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 6. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of some embodiments of the present application after the first plate has been stacked. [Figure 10] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of part I in FIG. 5. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of an electrode assembly according to some alternative embodiments of the present application. [Figure 12] 10 is a schematic diagram of a first electrode plate and a separator deployed according to some other embodiments of the present application. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a first electrode plate and a separator deployed according to some other embodiments of the present application. [Figure 15] 6 is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the first electrode plate, the second electrode plate, and the separator in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 16] 1 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to one embodiment of the present application. The drawings herein are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application, and together with the specification, are used to interpret the principles of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] In order to better understand the technical solution of the present application, the following describes in detail the embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the drawings.

[0040] It is clear that the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without any creative effort fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0041] The terms used in the examples of this application are for the purpose of describing particular examples only and are not intended to limit the application. As used in the examples of this application and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "the," "said," and "the" are also intended to include the plural form unless the context indicates otherwise.

[0042] 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 combination of A and B, and B alone. Also, the character " / " in this specification generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relation.

[0043] 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 terms of angles shown in the drawings and should not be understood as limitations of the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that in the context, when referring to an element being connected "up" or "down" to another element, it can not only be directly connected "up" or "down" to the other element, but also indirectly connected "up" or "down" to the other element via an intermediate element.

[0044] The term "plurality" as used herein refers to two or more (including two).

[0045] In this 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., but the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto. The battery cell may have a cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or other shape, etc., but the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto. Battery cells are generally divided into three types based on packaging method: cylindrical battery cells, rectangular battery cells, and pouch battery cells, but the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto.

[0046] The battery referred to in the embodiments of this application refers to a single physical module containing one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery referred to in this application may include a battery module or a battery pack. The battery generally includes a housing for packaging one or more battery cells. The housing can prevent liquid or other foreign matter from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

[0047] A battery cell includes an electrode assembly and an electrolyte, and the electrode assembly is composed of a cathode plate, an anode plate, and a separator. The battery cell operates primarily by relying on the movement of metal ions between the cathode plate and the anode plate. The cathode plate includes a cathode current collector and a cathode active material layer. The cathode active material layer is coated on the surface of the cathode current collector, and the cathode current collector without the cathode active material layer protrudes from the cathode current collector already coated with the cathode active material layer, and the cathode current collector without the cathode active material layer is called a cathode tab. The positive electrode active material layer is coated on the surface of the positive current collector, and the anode current collector without the cathode active material layer protrudes from the anode current collector already coated with the cathode active material layer, and the positive electrode current collector without the cathode active material layer is called a positive tab. To ensure that the cathode tabs will not melt even when a large current is passed through them, the cathode tabs are multiple and stacked, and the anode tabs are multiple and stacked.

[0048] The electrode assembly may have a wound structure or a stacked structure. A wound electrode assembly is an electrode assembly formed by winding a cathode plate, an anode plate, and a separator interposed between the cathode and anode plates. However, a stacked electrode assembly may also be formed by alternately stacking a plurality of individual cathode plates and a plurality of individual anode plates and separators. A stacked electrode assembly may be formed by covering the top and bottom sides of a single continuous anode plate with separators and then stacking the cathode plate in a Z-shape. Such a structure in which the separator completely covers the anode plate forms a separator pouch-type electrode, in which the electrode plate is completely contained in the separator pouch, and the electrode plate does not displace or come into contact with the electrode plate, effectively preventing short circuits, ensuring battery safety, and ensuring full battery capacity. However, the inventors discovered that pouch-type separators require pressure packaging by heat sealing the separator edges corresponding to each layer of electrode plate, which is relatively inefficient and may cause excessive shrinkage of the separator if the separator edges are repeatedly heat sealed, potentially resulting in breakage.

[0049] On the other hand, when the positive electrode plates are covered with the separators and then stacked in a Z-shape, the separators that extend beyond the ends of the positive electrode plates are easily folded back, especially at the folding positions when stacked in a Z-shape, which causes the negative and positive electrode plates to come into contact with each other, leading to the risk of short-circuiting the electrode assembly.

[0050] In view of this, the examples of the present application provide a technical solution in which the separator that protrudes beyond the edge of the positive electrode plate is at least partially heat-sealed, which effectively prevents the protruding separator from folding back, prevents short circuits in the electrode assembly, reinforces the electrochemical performance of the battery, improves the safety and reliability of the battery, and also prevents the separator from being subjected to repeated and excessive heating, thereby improving production efficiency. The examples of the present application are described in detail below.

[0051] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to various batteries and power consuming devices.

[0052] The power consuming devices may be vehicles, mobile phones, portable devices, laptops, steamships, spacecraft, electric toys, power tools, etc. The vehicles may be fuel oil vehicles, gas vehicles, or new energy vehicles, and the new energy vehicles may be pure electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, or range extender vehicles, etc. The spacecraft may include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, spaceships, etc. The electric toys may include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric steamship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc. The power tools may include metal cutting power tools, polishing power tools, assembly power tools, and railway power tools, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, hammer drills, concrete vibrators, and electric planers, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not particularly limit the above power consuming devices.

[0053] For convenience of explanation, the following embodiment will be described by taking an example in which the device using the battery is a vehicle.

[0054] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle 1 according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0055] 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 referred to in this 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 used as 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 starting the vehicle 1, navigating, and meeting the operating power consumption needs during driving.

[0056] 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 driving power source for the vehicle 1, in place of, or in place of, fuel oil or natural gas.

[0057] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an explosion of a battery 2 according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 2, the battery 2 includes a housing 5 and a battery cell 20 housed within the housing 5.

[0059] The housing 5 is used to house the battery cells 20, and 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, and the first housing portion 51 and the second housing portion 52 are fitted together, and the first housing portion 51 and the second housing portion 52 house the battery cells 20. 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 accommodation space 53. The first housing portion 51 and the second housing portion 52 may 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 accommodation space 53. Of course, the first housing portion 51 and the second housing portion 52 may have various shapes, such as a cylinder, a rectangular parallelepiped, etc.

[0060] 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 sealing rubber or a sealing ring, may be installed between the first housing part 51 and the second housing part 52.

[0061] 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 the upper housing cover, and the second housing part 52 may be referred to as the lower housing.

[0062] The battery 2 includes a plurality of battery cells 20. The plurality of battery cells 20 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel connection; 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 entire battery cell set 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 an assembled battery, and then the assembled batteries may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to form a whole battery set that is housed in the housing 5.

[0063] According to different power demands, the number of battery cells 20 may be set to any value. Multiple battery cells 20 may be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel to achieve relatively large capacity or power. Multiple battery cells 20 may be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel to form a battery module, and then multiple battery modules may be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel to form a battery 2. That is, multiple battery cells 20 may directly form a battery 2, or may first form a battery module, and the battery module may form a battery 2, which may be housed in the housing 5.

[0064] FIG. 3 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery module 200 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0065] 3, since each battery 2 may include a relatively large number of battery cells 20, for ease of installation, the battery cells 20 may be installed in groups, with each set of battery cells 20 constituting a battery module 200. The battery 2 may include multiple battery modules 200, which may be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel.

[0066] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an explosion of a battery cell 20 according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0067] 4 , a battery cell 20 is the smallest structural unit for forming a battery 2. 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 battery cell, a sodium-ion battery cell, or a magnesium-ion battery cell, etc., but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. The battery cell 20 may have a flat, rectangular, or other shape, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. For convenience of explanation, the following embodiments will use rectangular battery cells 20 as an example.

[0068] Continuing to refer 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 depending on the specific shape and size of 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 have another shape. One end of the case 23 has an opening 231, and the end cap assembly 21 covers this 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, electrode terminals 211 are installed on the end cap 212, and tabs 221 are installed on the electrode assembly 22. The electrode terminals 211 may be electrically connected to the tabs 221 to output electrical energy from the battery cell 20. A current collecting component may be installed corresponding to each electrode terminal 211, and the current collecting component may be positioned between the end cap 212 and the tab 221, so that the electrode terminals 211 and the tabs 221 can be electrically connected through the current collecting component. The end cap assembly 21 may further include other functional components, such as a pressure relief mechanism for releasing internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 reaches a threshold. The case 23 and the end cap 212 may be made of various materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, and aluminum alloys.

[0069] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode assembly 22 according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0070] 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, where 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 continuous separators 223 may be installed on both sides of the plurality of electrode plates along the thickness direction of the electrode plates.

[0071] Separators 223 are respectively installed on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 along the thickness direction of the electrode plate. The first electrode plate 222 and the separators 223 are folded back and forth multiple times, and the first electrode plate 222 and the separators 223 are folded back and forth in a roughly Z-shape. A second electrode plate 224 is installed between adjacent first electrode plates 222 on both sides of the stacked structure, and the first electrode plate 222 and the second electrode plate 224 are separated by the separator 223, forming a stacked electrode assembly 22. The polarities of the first electrode plate 222 and the second electrode plate 224 are opposite, and when one is a negative electrode plate, the other is a positive electrode plate. The separator 223 is a microporous membrane for separating the first electrode plate 222 and the second electrode plate 224, and is made of a polymer functional material with nanometer-order pores. It is used to prevent the two electrodes from coming into contact and shorting out, and is also capable of passing electrolyte ions. The separator 223 may be a polyolefin microporous membrane made of a polyolefin material, including a polyethylene (PE) monolayer membrane, a polypropylene (PP) monolayer membrane, and a polyethylene-polypropylene composite multilayer microporous membrane.

[0072] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a 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 cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 6.

[0073] 6 to 8 , the electrode assembly 22 of the embodiment of the present application includes a first electrode plate 222 and separators 223 disposed on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate and stacked on the first electrode plate 222. When the electrode assembly 22 is unfolded, the separator 223 has a first edge portion 2231 that protrudes beyond the end of the first electrode plate 222 along the longitudinal direction L of the separator, and a second edge portion 2232 that protrudes beyond the end of the first electrode plate 222 along the height direction H of the separator. Along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate, the first edge portion 2231 corresponding to both sides of the first electrode plate 222 is at least partially heat-sealed to form a first heat-sealed segment 22311, and the second edge portion 2232 corresponding to both sides of the first electrode plate 222 is at least partially heat-sealed to form a second heat-sealed segment 22321.

[0074] In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 8, a separator 223 that is continuous as a whole is installed on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 along the electrode plate thickness direction W, and the separators 223 are installed in pairs, and the first electrode plate 222 is installed between the two separators 223. electrode When manufacturing the assembly 22, two separators 223 are attached to the first electrode plates 222, respectively, to fix the positions of the separators 223 and the first electrode plates 222. The overall size of the separators 223 is larger than the overall size of the first electrode plates 222. The separators 223 extend beyond both ends of the first electrode plate 222 in the longitudinal direction L of the separator, thereby forming first edge portions 2231, and the separators 223 extend beyond both ends of the first electrode plate 222 in the height direction H of the separator, thereby forming second edge portions 2232. The overall size of the separators 223 is larger than the overall size of the first electrode plate 222, and the first electrode plate 222 is completely enclosed within the separators 223. This ensures that the first electrode plate 222 and the second electrode plate 224 are sufficiently isolated and electrically insulated from each other after the electrode assembly 22 is formed.

[0075] After 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 together with the first electrode plate 222 multiple times, and the first electrode plate 222 and the separators 223 on both sides may be folded back and forth in a generally Z-shape to form the electrode assembly 22. When the first electrode plate 222 is unfolded, a plurality of first tabs 2223 are installed at intervals on the end of the first electrode plate 222 along the height direction H of the separator. After the first electrode plates 222 are stacked in the 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.

[0076] The multiple dashed lines X in FIG. 6 do not represent the actual objects, but merely indicate the bending positions where the first electrode plate 222 and the separator 223 are stacked in a Z-shape, and these bending positions are bending regions with a certain width.

[0077] After stacking, the overall size of the separator 223 is larger than the overall size of the first electrode plate 222, so the first edge portion 2231 and the second edge portion 2232 that protrude beyond the first electrode plate 222 are prone to folding or wrinkling. After the first edge portion 2231 and the second edge portion 2232 are folded back, the first electrode plate 222 is exposed and may come into contact with the second electrode plate 224, causing a short circuit.

[0078] In order to prevent the first edge portion 2231 and the second edge portion 2232 from folding back, two separators 223 are attached to both sides of the first electrode plate 222 along the electrode plate thickness direction W, and then at least a portion of the first edge portion 2231 corresponding to the two separators 223 is heat-sealed and at least a portion of the second edge portion 2232 corresponding to the two separators 223 is heat-sealed, thereby increasing the strength of the separator 223 and preventing it from folding back.

[0079] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, along the longitudinal direction L of the separator, the separator 223 has a first edge portion 2231 that protrudes beyond both the left and right ends of the first electrode plate 222, and the first edge portions 2231 corresponding to both sides along the thickness direction W of the first electrode plate 222 are heat-sealed to form a first heat-sealed segment 22311. The separator 223 forms a structure in which at least a portion of the first electrode plate 222 is closed at both ends along the longitudinal direction L of the separator, which can effectively prevent the first edge portion 2231 in this region from folding back.

[0080] As shown in Figures 6 and 8, along the height direction H of the separator, the separator 223 has second edge portions 2232 that extend beyond the upper and lower ends of the first electrode plate 222. The second edge portions 2232 corresponding to both sides of the first electrode plate 222 along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate are heat-sealed to form second heat-sealed segments 22321, so that the separator 223 forms a structure in which at least a portion of the first electrode plate 222 is closed at both ends along the height direction H of the separator, effectively preventing the second edge portions 2232 in this region from folding back.

[0081] The first edge portion 2231 and the second edge portion 2232 that protrude beyond the first electrode plate 222 are at least partially heat-sealed, so that the first electrode plate 222 is closed or partially closed to the separator 223, and after the first electrode plate 222 and the separator 223 are stacked in a Z-shape, the separator 223 is folded back, preventing the first electrode plate 222 from contacting the second electrode plate 224 and reducing the risk of short-circuiting the electrode assembly 22. Furthermore, the separators 223 on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 are already heat-sealed before being stacked into the electrode assembly 22, eliminating the need to heat-seal the protruding portions of the separator 223 after stacking, thereby improving production efficiency and preventing the separator 223 from shrinking or being damaged due to excessive heat sealing.

[0082] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of some embodiments of the present application after the first plate 222 has been stacked.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 9 , in some embodiments, the first electrode plate 222 includes a plurality of folded segments 2221 and a plurality of first stacked segments 2222 arranged in a stacked manner, each folded segment 2221 connecting two adjacent first stacked segments 2222. After unfolding, the plurality of folded segments 2221 in FIG. 9 correspond to the positional areas of the plurality of dashed lines X in FIG. 6. FIGS. 6 and 9 are merely illustrative examples of the structure of the first electrode plate 222. The specific number of folded segments 2221 and first stacked segments 2222 may be arranged according to the size specifications of the electrode assembly, and the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0084] The first electrode plate 222 in FIG. 9 is a single continuous structure. When manufacturing an electrode assembly, first, a single continuous separator 223 is attached to each side of the first electrode plate 222 along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate. When the first electrode plate 222 is stacked in a Z-shape, the first electrode plate 222 and the separators 223 on both sides are folded in the region indicated by the dashed line X, so that the first electrode plate 222 forms a folded segment 2221.

[0085] Because the folding segment 2221 is an arc-shaped region, when the separators 223 on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 are folded together with the folding segment 2221, the second edge portion 2232 in the folding segment 2221 region is prone to wrinkles or folds, which may affect the performance of the electrode assembly 22 and may result in a risk of short circuit.

[0086] 6, in order to prevent the second edge portion 2232 of the separator 223 corresponding to the region of the folded segment 2221 from being wrinkled or folded back, the second heat-sealed segments 22321 are disposed at intervals corresponding to the positions of the folded segments 2221 along the longitudinal direction L of the separator when the electrode assembly 22 is unfolded. That is, the second edge portion 2232 corresponding to the position of each folded segment 2221 (i.e., the region of the dashed line X in FIG. 6) is heat-sealed and connected as the second heat-sealed segment 22321.

[0087] When manufacturing the electrode assembly, first, a single, continuous separator 223 is attached to each side of the first electrode plate 222 in the electrode plate thickness direction W, and then the second edge portion 2232 corresponding to the area indicated by the dashed line X is heat-sealed to form the second heat-sealed segment 22321. After the heat-sealing is completed, the first electrode plate 222 and the separators 223 on both sides are folded back and forth in the area indicated by the dashed line X to form a plurality of folded segments 2221. Because the second edge portion 2232 corresponding to the area indicated by the dashed line X has already been heat-sealed to form the second heat-sealed segment 22321 before stacking, the second edge portion 2232 corresponding to the folded segment 2221 does not wrinkle or fold back during the stacking operation, reducing the risk of the electrode assembly 22 shorting.

[0088] In some embodiments, the length of the second heat-sealed segment 22321 along the longitudinal direction L of the separator is greater than the length of the folded segment 2221, i.e., after the second edge portion 2232 corresponding to the folded segment 2221 is heat-sealed, the entire folded segment 2221 is closed within the second heat-sealed segment 22321, but no exposed portion is present. In this way, when a lamination operation is performed, there is no risk that the corresponding second edge portion 2232 of the folded segment 2221 along the longitudinal direction L of the separator will be folded back, thereby exposing the folded segment 2221.

[0089] In some embodiments, the second heat-sealed segments 22321 at both ends of the first electrode plate 222 along the height direction H of the separator are arranged symmetrically with respect to the folded segment 2221, that is, the second edge portions 2232 at both ends of the folded segment 2221 along the height direction H of the separator are heat-sealed and connected as second heat-sealed segments 22321, respectively, and the second heat-sealed segments 22321 at both ends of the first electrode plate 222 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the folded segment 2221, so that both ends of the folded segment 2221 along the height direction H of the separator are completely closed within the separator 223 by the second heat-sealed segments 22321, and there is no risk that the second edge portions 2232 corresponding to both sides of the folded segment 2221 along the height direction H of the separator are folded back, thereby exposing the folded segment 2221.

[0090] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of part I in FIG.

[0091] As shown in Figures 5 and 10, in some embodiments, along the thickness direction W of the plate, the folding segment 2221 includes a thinned portion 22211 or a cut portion 22212 (see Figure 11) to facilitate folding of the first plate 222.

[0092] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the bending segments 2221 include thinned portions 22211, and the number of thinned portions 22211 may be the same as the number of bending segments 2221; of course, as can be understood, among all the bending segments 2221, some bending segments 2221 may have thinned portions 22211, while other bending segments 2221 may not have thinned portions 22211.

[0093] The thin portion 22211 may be a groove provided in the first electrode plate 222, and this groove may be formed by removing a portion of the active material layer on the first electrode plate 222. In one example, the cross-sectional shape of the thin portion 22211 perpendicular to the thickness direction W of the electrode plate is V-shaped, but the cross-sectional shape of the thin portion 22211 is not limited to V-shaped and may be U-shaped or rectangular, for example.

[0094] One of the two adjacent thin-walled portions 22211 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, so that the first electrode plate 222 can be bent back and forth in a Z-shape.

[0095] The thin-walled portion 22211 is used to guide the first electrode plate 222 to bend in the area of ​​the thin-walled portion 22211 when manufacturing the electrode assembly 22, thereby facilitating the lamination operation; since the thin-walled portion 22211 has a thickness thinner than that of the first electrode plate 222, the first electrode plate 222 is more likely to bend into the thin-walled portion 22211, which is advantageous in improving the controllability and accuracy of the bending position.

[0096] 6 , in some embodiments, when the folded segment 2221 includes a thinned portion 22211, the length of the second heat-sealed segment 22321 along the longitudinal direction L of the separator should be such that it can heat-seal at least the second edge portion 2232 corresponding to the end of the thinned portion 22211. In one specific embodiment, the length of the second heat-sealed segment 22321 along the longitudinal direction L of the separator is 3 to 50 mm, which can close the thinned portion 22211 and reduce the risk of the second edge portion 2232 being folded back.

[0097] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode assembly 22 according to some other embodiments of the present application, FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a first electrode plate 222 and a separator 223 according to some other embodiments of the present application, and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow CC in FIG. 12.

[0098] As shown in FIGS. 11-13, in some embodiments, the first plate 222 is folded. segment The separator 2221 includes a cutout 22212, and when the first electrode plate 222 is unfolded, the cutout 22212 divides the first electrode plate 222 into a plurality of spaced-apart first stacked segments 2222. When manufacturing the electrode assembly 22, the plurality of first stacked segments 2222 are attached to a single overall separator 223 at intervals, the distance between the plurality of first stacked segments 2222 being equal to the width of a single cutout 22212, and then the single overall separator 223 is attached to the side of the plurality of first stacked segments 2222 to which the separator 223 is not attached, and the plurality of first stacked segments 2222 are placed between the two layers of separator 223. After that, the separator 223 and the plurality of first stacked segments 2222 are folded back and forth at the positions of the plurality of cutouts 22212, so that the separator 223 is stacked and installed together with the plurality of first stacked segments 2222.

[0099] The cutting portion 22212 is used to facilitate the stacking operation when manufacturing the electrode assembly 22 by guiding the separator 223 and the plurality of first stacking segments 2222 to be folded at the position of the cutting portion 22212, and because the cutting portion 22212 divides the first electrode plate 222 into the plurality of first stacking segments 2222 spaced apart, accurately controlling the size accuracy of the first stacking segments 2222 can be advantageous in improving the controllability and accuracy of the folding position.

[0100] Continuing to refer to FIG. 12, in some embodiments, when the folding segment 2221 includes a cut portion 22212, the length of the second heat-sealed segment 22321 along the longitudinal direction L of the separator may be greater than the width of the cut portion 22212, specifically, the length of the second heat-sealed segment 22321 along the longitudinal direction L of the separator may be 5 to 50 mm, thereby realizing closure of all or part of both ends of the cut portion 22212 along the longitudinal direction L of the separator and reducing the risk of the second edge portion 2232 corresponding to the cut portion 22212 being folded back.

[0101] Continuing to refer to Figures 5 and 12, in some embodiments, along the height direction H of the separator, one end of the first plate 222 has a first tab 2223 protruding from the separator 223, and the second heat-sealed segment 22321 avoids the first tab 2223.

[0102] When the first electrode plate 222 is unfolded, a plurality of first tabs 2223 are spaced apart at the end of the first electrode plate 222 along the height direction H of the separator. After the first electrode plates 222 are stacked in a Z-shape, the plurality of first tabs 2223 overlap to form a multi-tab tab 221 that is electrically connected to the electrode terminal 211. Because the first tabs 2223 protrude from the separator 223, when the second edge portion 2232 is heat-sealed to form the second heat-sealed segment 22321, it is necessary to avoid the position of the first tabs 2223 so that the second edge portions 2232 on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate can be heat-sealed.

[0103] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a first electrode plate 222 and a separator 223 deployed according to some other embodiments of the present application.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 14 , in some embodiments, the areas of the second edge portions 2232 on both sides of the first plate 222 along the plate thickness direction W, avoiding the first tab 2223, are all heat-sealed to form a second heat-sealed segment 22321.

[0105] The second edge portion 2232 in the area avoiding the first tab 2223 is all heat-sealed to form a second heat-sealed segment 22321, but since the separator 223 itself is viscous, the portion of the second edge portion 2232 that comes into contact with the first tab 2223 is completely enclosed within the separator 223 on both sides along the thickness direction W of the end plate having one side of the first tab 2223 along the height direction H of the separator, thereby reducing the risk of the electrode assembly 22 short-circuiting due to the second edge portion 2232 on this side being folded back.

[0106] Similarly, the second edge portions 2232 on the opposite sides of the separator on which the first tab 2223 is installed can all be heat-sealed to form a third heat-sealed segment 22322 since there is no interference from the first tab 2223, thereby closing all of the ends of the first electrode plate 222 on both sides of the separator in the height direction H, and the risk of the electrode assembly 22 being short-circuited can be sufficiently reduced by folding back all of the second edge portions 2232.

[0107] 14 , in some embodiments, the first edge portions 2231 of the first electrode plate 222 corresponding to both sides along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate are all heat-sealed to form first heat-sealed segments 22311. By heat-sealing all of the first edge portions 2231 corresponding to both sides along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate, it is possible to sufficiently reduce the risk of short-circuiting the electrode assembly 22 due to all of the first edge portions 2231 being folded back.

[0108] The first edge portion 2231 and the second edge portion 2232 of the separator 223 that protrude beyond the first electrode plate 222 are heat-sealed except for the portion that overlaps with the first tab 2223, so that the first electrode plate 222 can be completely enclosed within the separator 223 on both sides along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate. This effectively prevents the first edge portion 2231 and the second edge portion 2232 from being folded back, prevents short circuits in the electrode assembly 22, stabilizes the structure of the first electrode plate 222 and the separator 223, and improves production efficiency.

[0109] As can be seen, in FIG. 14 , the first electrode plate 222 may be a first electrode plate 222 including an entire continuous thinned portion 22211, or may be a first electrode plate 222 divided into a plurality of first laminated segments 2222 including cut portions 22212.

[0110] In some embodiments, the length of the first heat-sealed segment 22311 along the longitudinal direction L of the separator is 1 to 5 mm, and the height of the second heat-sealed segment 22321 along the height direction H of the separator is 1 to 5 mm.

[0111] The first heat-sealed segments 22311 are disposed on both ends of the first electrode plate 222 along the longitudinal direction L of the separator, and the heat-sealed length along the longitudinal direction L of the separator is 1 to 5 mm, ensuring the strength of the first heat-sealed segments 22311 and reducing the risk of cracking during stacking. The second heat-sealed segments 22321 are disposed on both ends of the first electrode plate 222 along the height direction H of the separator, and the heat-sealed height along the height direction H of the separator is 1 to 5 mm, ensuring the strength of the second heat-sealed segments 22321 and reducing the risk of cracking during stacking.

[0112] In some embodiments, the first electrode plate 222 is an anode plate. The current collector of the anode plate is a metal material such as copper or a copper alloy, and the current collector of the anode plate is coated with a layer of anode active material, which may be a material such as carbon or silicon. Due to the characteristics of the anode active material, powdering may occur during operation of the electrode assembly 22. By enclosing the anode plate as the first electrode plate 222 within the separator 223, the risk of corrosion of the case 23 due to powdering of the anode active material can be reduced.

[0113] Continuing to refer to Figures 5 and 11, in some embodiments, the electrode assembly 22 further includes a second electrode plate 224 having a polarity opposite to that of the first electrode plate 222, and when the first electrode plate 222 is an anode plate, the second electrode plate 224 is a cathode plate, and the second electrode plate 224 includes a plurality of second stacked segments 2241, and in the stacked state of the electrode assembly 22, each second stacked segment 2241 is positioned between two adjacent first stacked segments 2222.

[0114] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the first electrode plate 222, the second electrode plate 224 and the separator 223 in the embodiment shown in FIG.

[0115] As shown in FIG. 15 , when manufacturing the electrode assembly 22, a first electrode plate 222 is prepared and separators 223 are respectively installed on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 in the thickness direction W of the electrode plate, so that the paired separators 223 sandwich the first electrode plate 222. In one example, after the separator 223 is installed on the first electrode plate 222, a second stacked segment 2241 of the second electrode plate 224 is attached to the separator 223. For example, the second stacked segment 2241 and the separator 223 may be connected by hot pressing, electrophoresis, or adhesive bonding. One of two adjacent second stacked segments 2241 is connected to one of the paired separators 223, and the other is connected to the other of the paired separators 223, so that the two adjacent second stacked segments 2241 are respectively installed on opposite sides of the first electrode plate 222. The first stacked segment 2222 and the second stacked segment 2241 are positioned correspondingly 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 the stacked electrode assembly 22. This arrangement allows the formed electrode assembly 22 to better meet usage requirements and optimize the electrical performance of the electrode assembly 22.

[0116] FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0117] FIG. 16, an embodiment of the present application further provides a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, the method including the following steps:

[0118] Step S1: Provide a first electrode plate 222. In some embodiments, the first electrode plate 222 may be a positive electrode plate.

[0119] Step S2, provide a separator 223. The separator 223 may be a continuous whole structure.

[0120] In step S3, the separators 223 are disposed on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate, and are stacked on the first electrode plate 222.

[0121] In step S4, a first edge portion 2231 is provided on the separator 223, extending beyond the end of the first electrode plate 222 along the longitudinal direction L of the separator, and a second edge portion 2232 is provided on the separator 223, extending beyond the end of the first electrode plate 222 along the height direction H of the separator.

[0122] Step S5: Along the thickness direction W of the electrode plate, the first edge portion 2231 corresponding to both sides of the first electrode plate 222 is at least partially heat-sealed to form a first heat-sealed segment 22311, and the second edge portion 2232 corresponding to both sides of the first electrode plate 222 is at least partially heat-sealed to form a second heat-sealed segment 22321.

[0123] In some embodiments, the method of manufacturing the electrode assembly involves hot pressing to achieve heat fusion bonding.

[0124] In some embodiments, step S1 of providing a first electrode plate includes forming a plurality of thinned portions 22211 in the first electrode plate 222 by cutting or laser cleaning. By cutting or laser cleaning the first electrode plate 222, some material is removed from the first electrode plate 222, and the removed material may be active material or current collector material, so that the thinned portions 22211 have a thickness smaller than that of other portions of the first electrode plate 222.

[0125] In some embodiments, in step S1, one of the two adjacent thin-walled portions 22211 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, so that the first electrode plate 222 can be bent back and forth in a Z-shape.

[0126] In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing the electrode assembly further includes stacking the separator 223 together with the first electrode plate 222, folding the plurality of thin-walled portions 22211 to form a plurality of folded segments 2221, and forming a plurality of first stacked segments 2222 stacked and positioned between the plurality of folded segments 2221.

[0127] In some embodiments, the method of manufacturing the electrode assembly further includes providing a second electrode plate 224 and placing the second electrode plate 224 between adjacent first stacked segments 2222 that are placed in a stacked manner.

[0128] In the method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to the present application, the first edge portion 2231 and the second edge portion 2232 that protrude beyond the first electrode plate 222 are at least partially heat-sealed to close or partially close the first electrode plate 222 to the separator 223, and after stacking the first electrode plate 222 and the separator 223 in a Z-shape, the separator 223 is folded back to prevent the first electrode plate 222 from contacting the second electrode plate 224, thereby reducing the risk of short-circuiting the electrode assembly 22. Furthermore, the separators 223 on both sides of the first electrode plate 222 are already heat-sealed before being stacked into the electrode assembly 22, eliminating the need to heat-seal the protruding portions of the separator 223 after stacking, thereby improving production efficiency and preventing the separator 223 from shrinking or being damaged due to excessive heat sealing.

[0129] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application, and those skilled in the art may 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 shall be included in the protection scope of the present application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0130] 1 - vehicle, 2 - battery, 3 - controller, 4 - motor, 5 - housing, 51—first housing portion; 52—second housing portion; 53—accommodation space; 20-battery cells, 200-battery modules, 21—end cap assembly; 211—electrode terminal; 212—end cap; 22-electrode assembly, 221-Tab, 222 - First plate, 2221 - folded segment, 22211-thin section, 22212-cutting section, 2222—first stacked segment, 2223-First tab, 223 - separator, 2231-First Edge, 22311 - First heat-sealed segment; 2232-Second Edge, 22321 - Second heat-sealed segment, 22322 - Third heat-sealed segment, 224 - Second plate, 2241 - Second stacked segment, 23-case, 231-opening

Claims

1. 1. An electrode assembly comprising: a first electrode plate; Separators are installed on both sides of the first electrode plate in a thickness direction of the electrode plate and are stacked on the first electrode plate, When the electrode assembly is deployed, the separator has a first edge portion that extends beyond the end of the first electrode plate along a longitudinal direction of the separator, and a second edge portion that extends beyond the end of the first electrode plate along a height direction of the separator, The first edge portions corresponding to both sides of the first electrode plate along the thickness direction of the electrode plate are at least partially heat-sealed to form a first heat-sealed segment, and the second edge portions corresponding to both sides of the first electrode plate are at least partially heat-sealed to form a second heat-sealed segment; an electrode assembly, wherein the first electrode plate includes a plurality of folded segments and a plurality of first stacked segments arranged in a stacked manner, each of the folded segments being connected to two adjacent first stacked segments, and the second heat-sealed segments being arranged at intervals corresponding to the positions of the folded segments along the longitudinal direction of the separator when the electrode assembly is unfolded.

2. 2. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the length of the second heat-sealed segment is greater than the length of the folded segment along the longitudinal direction of the separator.

3. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second heat-sealed segment is disposed symmetrically with respect to the folded segment along the height direction of the separator.

4. 4. The electrode assembly of claim 1, wherein the folding segment includes a thinned portion or cut portion along the thickness of the plate to facilitate folding of the first plate.

5. 5. The electrode assembly according to claim 4, wherein when the folded segment includes a thin-walled portion, the length of the second heat-sealed segment along the longitudinal direction of the separator is 3 to 50 mm.

6. 5. The electrode assembly according to claim 4, wherein when the folded segment includes a cut portion, the length of the second heat-sealed segment along the longitudinal direction of the separator is 5 to 50 mm.

7. 5. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a first tab protruding from the separator at one end of the first electrode plate along the height direction of the separator, and the second heat-sealed segment avoids the first tab.

8. 8. The electrode assembly according to claim 7, wherein the second edge portions on both sides of the first plate along the thickness direction of the plate, in areas avoiding the first tab, are all heat-sealed to form a second heat-sealed segment.

9. 9. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first edge portions of the first electrode plate corresponding to both sides along the thickness direction of the electrode plate are all heat-sealed to form a first heat-sealed segment.

10. 10. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the length of the first heat-sealed segment along the longitudinal direction of the separator is 1 to 5 mm, and the height of the second heat-sealed segment along the height direction of the separator is 1 to 5 mm.

11. 11. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode plate is a positive electrode plate.

12. 12. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a second electrode plate having a polarity opposite to that of the first electrode plate, the second electrode plate comprising a plurality of second stacked segments, and in a stacked state of the electrode assembly, each of the second stacked segments is disposed between two adjacent first stacked segments.

13. 1. A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, comprising: providing a first plate; providing a separator; The separator is disposed on both sides of the first electrode plate in a thickness direction of the first electrode plate, and is stacked on the first electrode plate; the separator has a first edge portion that extends beyond the end of the first electrode plate along the longitudinal direction of the separator, and the separator has a second edge portion that extends beyond the end of the first electrode plate along the height direction of the separator, along the thickness direction of the electrode plate, at least a portion of the first edge portion corresponding to both sides of the first electrode plate is heat-sealed to form a first heat-sealed segment, and at least a portion of the second edge portion corresponding to both sides of the first electrode plate is heat-sealed to form a second heat-sealed segment; a manufacturing method for an electrode assembly, wherein the first electrode plate includes a plurality of folded segments and a plurality of first stacked segments arranged in a stacked manner, each of the folded segments being connected to two adjacent first stacked segments, and the second heat-sealed segments being arranged along the longitudinal direction of the separator when the electrode assembly is unfolded, and the second heat-sealed segments being arranged at intervals corresponding to the positions of the folded segments.

14. A battery cell comprising the electrode assembly of any one of claims 1 to 12, Or a battery cell including an electrode assembly manufactured using the method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to claim 13.

15. A battery comprising a plurality of battery cells according to claim 14.

16. 16. A power consuming device comprising the battery of claim 15, the battery being for providing electrical energy.

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