Electrode assembly, battery including electrode assembly, and battery pack and vehicle including battery

Abstract

The present invention may provide an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween are wound, wherein at least one among the positive electrode and the negative electrode comprises an uncoated portion on a long side end portion thereof, a winding turn portion of the uncoated portion is provided on an end portion on one side of the electrode assembly, and the winding turn portion comprises a cut portion and a bent portion which comprises a plurality of uncoated portion layers configured to be bent by being pressed.

Description

Electrode assembly, battery including electrode assembly, battery pack including same, and vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrode assembly, a battery including the electrode assembly, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle.

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0082049, filed on June 24, 2024, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the said application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2025-0074823, filed on June 9, 2025, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the said application are incorporated by reference into this application.

[0004]

[0005] Secondary batteries, which have high applicability according to product group and electrical characteristics such as high energy density, are widely used in portable devices as well as electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) driven by electrical power sources.

[0006] These secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source for environmental friendliness and energy efficiency, not only because they have the primary advantage of drastically reducing the use of fossil fuels, but also because they produce no byproducts from energy use.

[0007] Commonly used secondary batteries today include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and nickel-zinc batteries. When high output voltage is required, multiple battery cells are connected in series to form a battery module or battery pack. Furthermore, to increase charge / discharge capacity, multiple battery cells are connected in parallel to form a battery module or pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in a battery module or pack can vary depending on the required output voltage or charge / discharge capacity.

[0008] Meanwhile, cylindrical, square, and pouch-shaped batteries are known as types of unit secondary batteries. In the case of batteries, a separator, which is an insulator, is interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, and this is wound to form a jelly-roll-shaped electrode assembly, which is then inserted into the battery housing to form a battery. In addition, a strip-shaped electrode tab can be connected to the non-conductive portion of each of the positive and negative electrodes, and the electrode tab electrically connects the electrode assembly and the electrode terminal exposed to the outside. For reference, the positive terminal is a cap of a sealing body that seals the opening of the battery housing, and the negative terminal is the battery housing.

[0009] However, according to a conventional battery having such a structure, there was a problem in that the resistance was high, a lot of heat was generated, and the current collection efficiency was poor because the current was concentrated on the strip-shaped electrode tabs that were connected to the positive electrode non-conductive part and / or the negative electrode non-conductive part.

[0010] Resistance and heat generation are not major issues for small batteries with form factors such as 1865 or 2170. However, if the form factor is increased for use in electric vehicles, excessive heat generated around the electrode tabs during rapid charging can lead to battery fires.

[0011] To solve these problems, a battery having a structure in which a positive electrode non-conducting portion and a negative electrode non-conducting portion are respectively located at the top and bottom of a jelly roll type electrode assembly and a current collecting plate is welded to these non-conducting portions to improve current collection efficiency (a so-called tab-less battery) has been proposed.

[0012] Figures 1 to 3 are drawings showing the manufacturing process of a tab-less battery. Figure 1 shows the structure of an electrode plate, Figure 2 shows the winding process of the electrode plate, and Figure 3 shows the process of welding a current collecting plate to the folded surface of the non-conductive portion.

[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the positive electrode plate (10) and the negative electrode plate (11) have a structure in which an active material is coated on a sheet-shaped current collector (20), and may include a non-conductive portion (22) on one long side along the winding direction (X).

[0014] The electrode assembly (A) can be manufactured by sequentially stacking a positive electrode plate (10) and a negative electrode plate (11) together with two separators (12) as illustrated in Fig. 2 and then winding them in the winding direction (X). At this time, the non-coated portion (10a) of the positive electrode plate (10) and the non-coated portion (11a) of the negative electrode plate (11) can be arranged in opposite directions based on the short side direction of the separator (12). The positions of the positive electrode plate (10) and the negative electrode plate (11) can be changed to the opposite of what is illustrated.

[0015] After the winding process, the non-conductive portion (10a) of the positive electrode plate (10) and the non-conductive portion (11a) of the negative electrode plate (11) can be folded toward the core side. Thereafter, the current collecting plates (30, 31) are welded to the non-conductive portions (10a, 11a), respectively, to join them.

[0016] The positive electrode uncoated portion (10a) and the negative electrode uncoated portion (11a) are not connected with separate electrode tabs, the current collecting plates (30, 31) are connected to external electrode terminals, and the current path is formed with a large cross-sectional area along the winding axis direction (Z-axis direction) of the electrode assembly (A), so there is an advantage in that the resistance of the battery can be reduced. This is because the resistance is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area of ​​the path through which the current flows.

[0017] In a tab-less battery, in order to improve the welding characteristics of the non-conductive portion (10a, 11a) and the current collecting plate (30, 31), it may be necessary to apply strong pressure to the welding point of the non-conductive portion (10a, 11a) to bend the non-conductive portion (10a, 11a) as flat as possible.

[0018] However, in the case where a folded surface is formed on the entire upper surface of the electrode assembly (A) by bending the non-conductive portion (10a, 11a), when a thermal event occurs within the battery, the entire electrode assembly (A) with the folded surface formed is ejected from the battery as a single mass. In this case, it may be difficult to eject due to the beading portion, etc.

[0019]

[0020] The present invention was created under the background of the above-described prior art, and its purpose is to provide an electrode assembly that can easily escape from the battery when a thermal event occurs within the battery.

[0021] Another technical object of the present invention is to provide a battery including an electrode assembly of an improved structure, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle including the battery pack.

[0022] The technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the problems described above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below.

[0023]

[0024] In order to solve the above problem, the present invention can provide an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode and a separator interposed therebetween are wound, wherein at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode includes a non-coated portion at a long end, a winding turn portion of the non-coated portion is provided at one end of the electrode assembly, and the winding turn portion includes a cutting portion and a bending portion including a plurality of non-coated portion layers configured to be bent by pressure.

[0025] The above-mentioned bending portion may be positioned on the core side based on the radial direction, and the above-mentioned cutting portion may be positioned on the outside of the above-mentioned bending portion based on the radial direction.

[0026] The above-mentioned bending portion may be positioned inside the innermost portion of the beading portion of the battery, and the above-mentioned cutting portion may be positioned outside the innermost portion of the beading portion.

[0027] The above-described plurality of non-conductive layers may be characterized in that they are folded toward the core side of the electrode assembly and overlap each other to form a folded surface area.

[0028] The electrode assembly may be characterized by being divided into a first region surrounded by the bending portion and the bending surface area and a second region excluding the first region.

[0029] The above-mentioned cutting portion may be characterized by including a cutting surface that is substantially perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0030] The above cutting surface may be characterized in that it is configured to be cut through a notching process.

[0031] The above cutting surface may be characterized as being an ultrasonic cutting surface.

[0032] The above-mentioned bending portion may be positioned corresponding to the innermost portion of the crimping portion of the battery or further inward.

[0033] The above-mentioned bending portion may be positioned corresponding to the venting portion of the battery or further inward.

[0034] An electrode assembly may be characterized by comprising: an electrode housing including an open end and a closed end opposite thereto, the electrode assembly being received through the open end and electrically connected to the electrode assembly; a beading portion having an outer circumference of the battery housing recessed inward; a sealing body sealing the open end of the battery housing; a terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly and having a surface exposed to the outside; and a current collecting plate electrically connected to either the battery housing or the terminal.

[0035] The above-mentioned bending portion may be positioned inside the innermost portion of the beading portion, and the above-mentioned cutting portion may be positioned outside the innermost portion of the beading portion.

[0036] The above-described plurality of non-conductive layers may be characterized in that they overlap toward the core side of the electrode assembly to form a folded surface area.

[0037] The electrode assembly may be divided into a first region surrounded by the bending portion and the bending surface area and a second region excluding the first region, and may be characterized in that when a thermal event occurs within the battery, the first region is configured to be discharged outside the battery.

[0038] The cap may further include a crimping portion formed at the lower portion of the beading portion and configured to surround a portion of the outer surface of the cap, wherein the bending portion may be positioned corresponding to or further inward than the innermost portion of the crimping portion, and the cutting portion may be positioned outside the innermost portion of the crimping portion.

[0039] The cap may have a venting portion configured to break when the internal pressure of the battery housing increases above a certain level, the bending portion may be positioned corresponding to the venting portion or further inward, and the cutting portion may be positioned outside the venting portion.

[0040] In addition, the present invention provides a battery pack characterized by including a battery according to the present invention.

[0041] And, the present invention provides an automobile characterized by including a battery pack according to the present invention.

[0042]

[0043] In an electrode assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention, a bending portion configured to be bent by pressure is positioned inside the inner end of the beading portion of the battery, so that when a thermal event occurs inside the battery, the bending portion can be easily discharged to the outside of the battery.

[0044] In addition, the present invention may have various other effects, which will be described in each embodiment configuration, or an explanation of effects that can be easily inferred by a person skilled in the art will be omitted.

[0045]

[0046] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the detailed description of the invention described below, serve to further understand the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to matters described in such drawings.

[0047] Figure 1 is a plan view showing the structure of an electrode used in the manufacture of a conventional tab-less battery.

[0048] Figure 2 is a drawing showing the electrode winding process of a conventional tab-less battery.

[0049] Figure 3 shows a process in which a current collecting plate is welded to a folded surface of a non-conductive portion in a conventional tab-less battery.

[0050] Figure 4 is a plan view showing the structure of an electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Figure 5 is a partial perspective view showing the upper structure of an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of a jelly roll type electrode assembly in which the electrodes of FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied to the positive and negative electrodes.

[0053] FIG. 7 is a drawing showing the appearance of a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the lower structure of a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] Fig. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the lower structure of a battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the lower structure of a battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] Fig. 12 is a drawing schematically showing the configuration of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] FIG. 13 is a drawing for explaining a vehicle including the battery pack of FIG. 12.

[0060]

[0061] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, it should be noted that the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as limited to their conventional or dictionary meanings. Based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of terms to best explain his or her invention, they should be interpreted in a way that aligns with the technical spirit of the present invention.

[0062] Accordingly, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that there may be various equivalents and modified examples that can replace them at the time of filing this application.

[0063] Furthermore, the present invention includes various embodiments. For each embodiment, redundant descriptions of substantially identical or similar components will be omitted, and the differences will be described.

[0064] Additionally, to facilitate understanding of the invention, the attached drawings are not drawn to scale and some components may have exaggerated dimensions. Furthermore, identical components may be assigned the same reference numbers in different embodiments.

[0065] Although terms like "first" and "second" are used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one component from another, and unless otherwise specified, a "first" component may also be a "second" component.

[0066] Throughout the specification, unless otherwise specifically stated, each element may be singular or plural.

[0067] Hereinafter, the phrase "any configuration is placed on (or below)" a component or "on (or below)" a component may mean that any configuration is placed in contact with the upper surface (or lower surface) of said component, and that other configurations may be interposed between said component and any configuration placed on (or below) said component.

[0068] Additionally, when it is described that a component is "connected," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the components may be directly connected or connected to one another, but that other components may also be "interposed" between the components, or that each component may be "connected," "coupled," or "connected" through another component.

[0069] As used herein, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "consisting of" or "comprising" should not necessarily be construed to include all of the components or steps described in the specification, and should be construed to mean that some of the components or steps may not be included, or that additional components or steps may be included.

[0070] Throughout the specification, when we refer to "A and / or B", this means A, B, or A and B, unless otherwise stated, and when we refer to "C through D", this means C or more and D or less, unless otherwise stated.

[0071] First, an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The electrode assembly is a jelly roll type electrode assembly having a structure in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode in a sheet shape and a separator interposed between them are wound in one direction.

[0072] Preferably, at least one of the positive and negative electrodes includes a non-coated portion on the long side in the winding direction, wherein the non-coated portion is not coated with an active material. At least a portion of the non-coated portion can be used as an electrode tab in its own right.

[0073] Figure 4 is a plan view showing the structure of an electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 4, an electrode (40) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a current collector (41) and an active material layer (42). The configuration of the current collector (41), the active material layer (42), and the non-conductive portion (43) of FIG. 4 may be all or part of the same as the configuration of the current collector (20), the active material layer (21), and the non-conductive portion (22) of FIGS. 1 to 3. The embodiment of FIG. 4 may be partially combined with the element(s) illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0075] A current collector (41) of an electrode (40) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a metal foil. The metal foil may include a conductive metal. The metal foil may be, for example, aluminum or copper, and may be appropriately selected depending on the polarity of the electrode (40). An active material layer (42) is formed on at least one surface of the current collector (41), and may include a non-coated portion (43) at a long end in the winding direction (X). The non-coated portion (43) is a region where the active material is not coated. An insulating coating layer (44) may be formed at a boundary between the active material layer (42) and the non-coated portion (43). The insulating coating layer (44) is formed so that at least a portion overlaps the boundary between the active material layer (42) and the non-coated portion (43). The insulating coating layer (44) may include a polymer resin and an inorganic filler such as SiO2 or Al2O3. The polymer resin may have a porous structure. The polymer resin is not particularly limited as long as it is an insulating material. The polymer resin may be, for example, polyolefin, polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene fluoride, etc., but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0076] The electrode (40) of the above-described embodiment can be applied to an anode (e.g., an anode (40a) of FIG. 6) and / or a cathode (e.g., an anode (40b) of FIG. 6) included in a jellyroll type electrode assembly (e.g., an electrode assembly (50) of FIG. 6). In addition, when the electrode structure of the embodiment is applied to one of the anode and the cathode, a conventional electrode structure (FIG. 1) can be applied to the other. In addition, the electrode structures applied to the anode and the cathode may not be identical to each other and may be different.

[0077] In the present invention, the positive electrode active material coated on the positive electrode and the negative electrode active material coated on the negative electrode may be used without limitation as long as they are active materials known in the art. In one example, the positive electrode active material may include an alkali metal compound represented by the general chemical formula A[AxMy]O2+z (A includes at least one element selected from Li, Na, and K; M includes at least one element selected from Ni, Co, Mn, Ca, Mg, Al, Ti, Si, Fe, Mo, V, Zr, Zn, Cu, Al, Mo, Sc, Zr, Ru, and Cr; x ≥ 0, 1 ≤ x+y ≤ 2, 0.1 ≤ z ≤ 2; stoichiometric coefficients x, y, and z are selected such that the compound maintains electrical neutrality).

[0078] In another example, the positive electrode active material may be an alkali metal compound xLiM1O2(1x)Li2M2O3 (M1 comprises at least one element having an average oxidation state 3; M2 comprises at least one element having an average oxidation state 4; 0≤x≤1) as disclosed in US6,677,082, US6,680,143, etc.

[0079] In another example, the cathode active material has the general formula LiaM1xFe1xM2yP1yM3zO4z (M1 comprises at least one element selected from Ti, Si, Mn, Co, Fe, V, Cr, Mo, Ni, Nd, Al, Mg and Al; M2 comprises at least one element selected from Ti, Si, Mn, Co, Fe, V, Cr, Mo, Ni, Nd, Al, Mg, Al, As, Sb, Si, Ge, V and S; M3 comprises a halogen element optionally including F; 0 < a ≤2, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, 0 ≤ y < 1, 0 ≤ z < 1; the stoichiometric coefficients a, x, y and z are selected such that the compound maintains electrical neutrality), or Li3M2(PO4)3 [M comprises at least one element selected from Ti, Si, Mn, Fe, Co, V, Cr, Mo, Ni, Al, Mg and Al. It may be a lithium metal phosphate represented by [containing at least one selected element].

[0080] Preferably, the positive electrode active material may include primary particles and / or secondary particles formed by agglomeration of primary particles.

[0081] In one example, the negative active material may be carbon, lithium metal or a lithium metal compound, silicon or a silicon compound, tin or a tin compound, etc. Metal oxides such as TiO2 and SnO2 with a potential of less than 2 V can also be used as the negative active material. Carbon materials such as low-crystalline carbon and high-crystalline carbon can all be used.

[0082] The separator may be a porous polymer film, for example, a porous polymer film made of a polyolefin polymer such as ethylene homopolymer, propylene homopolymer, ethylene / butene copolymer, ethylene / hexene copolymer, ethylene / methacrylate copolymer, etc., used alone or in a laminated manner. As another example, the separator may be a conventional porous nonwoven fabric, for example, a nonwoven fabric made of high-melting-point glass fiber, polyethylene terephthalate fiber, etc.

[0083] According to one embodiment, the non-coated portion (43) may include a plurality of segments (43a) that have been notched. The segments (43a) may have a geometric shape that is a combination of at least one straight line and / or at least one curved line. For example, the segments (43a) may have a trapezoidal shape, and may be deformed into a square, a parallelogram, a semicircle, a semi-ellipse, etc. Preferably, the heights of the plurality of segments (43a) may be the same or different from each other. For example, the heights may increase or decrease stepwise along a direction parallel to the winding direction of the electrode assembly (50), i.e., from the core side to the outer periphery side. Preferably, at least a portion of the non-coated portion (43) adjacent to the outer periphery side may be cut through a notching process. The height (e.g., length in the Z-axis direction of FIG. 4) and / or width (e.g., length in the X-axis direction of FIG. 4) of the segments (43a) can be designed in various ways, and the number of the plurality of segments (43a) can be increased or decreased compared to that shown.

[0084] According to one embodiment, the plain portion (43) may include a core-side plain portion (43-1) including a plurality of segments (43a) and an outer-side plain portion (43-2) cut to include a cutting surface. For example, the length of one side of the core-side plain portion (43-1) parallel to the winding direction may be a first length (l1), and the length of one side of the outer-side plain portion (43-2) parallel to the winding direction may be a second length (l2). The plain portion (43) may form a plurality of winding turns in the radial direction when the electrode (40) is wound. For example, the first length (l1) may be formed longer than the second length (l2). For example, the first length (l1) may be formed shorter than the second length (l2). The length ratio of the core-side plain part (43-1) and the outer-side plain part (43-2) can be designed in various ways and can be adjusted according to the radial width of the core-side plain part (43-1) and the outer-side plain part (43-2) that form multiple winding turns.

[0085] When the non-cutting portion (43) is cut, it may be desirable to leave a gap (G) between the cutting line and the insulating coating layer (44) to prevent damage to the active material layer (42) and / or the insulating coating layer (44). For example, the gap (G) may be approximately 0.2 mm to 4 mm. When the gap (G) is adjusted within the corresponding numerical range, damage to the active material layer (42) and / or the insulating coating layer (44) due to cutting tolerance can be prevented when the non-cutting portion (43) is cut.

[0086] Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view showing the upper structure of an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of a jelly roll type electrode assembly in which the electrode of Fig. 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to the positive and negative electrodes.

[0087] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an electrode assembly (50) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a non-conductive portion (51) including at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The configuration of the non-conductive portion (51) of FIGS. 5 and 6 may be all or part of the same as the configuration of the non-conductive portion (43) of FIG. 4. The embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 may be partially combined with the embodiment of FIG. 4.

[0088] An electrode assembly (50) can be defined as an assembly in which a positive electrode (40a) and a negative electrode (40b) and a separator (e.g., a separator (12) of FIG. 2) interposed therebetween are wound. The electrode assembly (50) can be manufactured using the winding method described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0089] For example, the positive electrode (40a) includes a current collector (e.g., a current collector (41) of FIG. 4) and an active material layer formed on at least one surface thereof (e.g., an active material layer (42) of FIG. 4), and the thickness of the current collector may be approximately 180 μm to 220 μm. The negative electrode (40b) includes a current collector (e.g., a current collector (41) of FIG. 4) and an active material layer formed on at least one surface thereof (e.g., an active material layer (42) of FIG. 4), and the thickness of the current collector may be approximately 140 μm to 180 μm. A separator (not shown) is interposed between the positive electrode (40a) and the negative electrode (40b), and the thickness may be approximately 8 μm to 18 μm. For example, the Z-axis direction length of the active material layer of the positive electrode (40a) may be smaller than the Z-axis direction length of the active material layer of the negative electrode (40b). Accordingly, the active material layer of the negative electrode (40b) can extend longer along the Z-axis direction than the active material layer of the positive electrode (40a). For example, in the electrode assembly (50), the number of turns of the positive electrode (40a) varies depending on the form factor of the battery (100) and may be approximately 48 to 56. The number of turns of the negative electrode (40b) also varies depending on the form factor of the battery (100) and may be approximately 48 to 56.

[0090] A separator (not shown) may be interposed between the anode (40a) and the cathode (40b). At least one surface of the separator (not shown) may include a coating layer of inorganic particles. Additionally, the separator (not shown) itself may be formed of a coating layer of inorganic particles. The particles forming the coating layer may have a structure in which they are bonded with a binder such that an interstitial volume exists between adjacent particles. For example, the inorganic particles may be formed of an inorganic material having a dielectric constant of 5 or higher. As a non-limiting example, the inorganic particles may include at least one material selected from the group consisting of Pb(Zr,Ti)O3(PZT), Pb1xLaxZr1yTiyO3(PLZT), PB(Mg3Nb2 / 3)O3PbTiO3(PMNPT), BaTiO3, hafnia(HfO2), SrTiO3, TiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, SnO2, CeO2, MgO, CaO, ZnO, and Y2O3.

[0091] At least one of the positive electrode (40a) and the negative electrode (40b) of the electrode assembly (50) may include a non-coated portion (51) at a long end. The non-coated portion (51) may include a positive electrode non-coated portion (51a) extending from the positive electrode (40a), and a negative electrode non-coated portion (51b) extending from the negative electrode (40b). For example, the positive electrode non-coated portion (51a) may protrude in an upward direction of the electrode assembly (50) (e.g., in the +Z direction of FIG. 5), and the negative electrode non-coated portion (51b) may protrude in a downward direction of the electrode assembly (50) (e.g., in the -Z direction of FIG. 5).

[0092] For example, in the winding structure of the anode (40a), the spacing between the anode non-coated portions (51a) located in radially adjacent winding turns may be approximately 350 um to 380 um. In addition, in the winding structure of the cathode (40b), the spacing between the cathode non-coated portions (51b) located in radially adjacent winding turns may be approximately 350 um to 380 um.

[0093] The non-conductive portion (51) may be formed longer than the non-conductive portion applied to the design of the small battery (100). Preferably, the non-conductive portion (51) may be 6 mm or longer, optionally 7 mm or longer, optionally 8 mm or longer, optionally 9 mm or longer, optionally 10 mm or longer, optionally 11 mm or longer, or optionally 12 mm or longer.

[0094] Preferably, the insulating coating layer (44) formed at the boundary between the active material layer (e.g., the active material layer (42) of FIG. 4) of the positive electrode (40a) and the negative electrode (40b) and the non-coated portion (51) may extend to the end of the separator (not shown) or be exposed outward from the end. When the insulating coating layer (44) is exposed to the outside of the separator (not shown), it may serve to support the bending point when the non-coated portion (51) is bent. When the bending point is supported, the stress applied to the active material layer (42) and the separator (not shown) when the non-coated portion (51) is bent may be alleviated. In addition, the insulating coating layer (44) may prevent the positive electrode (40a) and the negative electrode (40b) from contacting each other and causing a short circuit.

[0095] A winding turn portion (52) of the non-coated portion (51) may be provided at one end of the electrode assembly (50). The winding turn portion (52) may refer to a portion formed when the non-coated portion (51) is wound. The winding turn portion (52) is exposed to the outside of the separator (not shown) along the winding axis direction (Z). A positive winding turn portion (52a) formed when the positive non-coated portion (51a) is wound may be provided at the upper end of the electrode assembly (50). Similarly, a negative winding turn portion (52b) formed when the negative non-coated portion (51b) is wound may be provided at the lower end of the electrode assembly (50).

[0096] According to one embodiment, the winding turn portion (52) can be divided into one or more parts. According to one embodiment, the winding turn portion (52) can be divided into a first part and a second part disposed outside the first part. The first part and the second part can be divided based on the radial direction of the electrode assembly (50). In other words, the first part can be located on the core side and the second part can be located on the outer circumference side based on the radial direction of the electrode assembly (50). According to one embodiment, the first part and the second part can be divided based on the beading portion (e.g., the beading portion (121) of FIG. 9) of the battery (e.g., the battery (100) of FIG. 7). For example, the first part can be disposed at a position corresponding to or further inside the inner end (e.g., the inner end (121c) of FIG. 9) of the beading portion (121) of the battery (100). Accordingly, the boundary area of ​​the first part and the second part may be located at a position corresponding to the innermost side of the beading portion (121) along the radial direction or further inward.

[0097] According to one embodiment, the winding turn portion (52) may include a bend portion (53) and / or a cut portion (54).

[0098] The folded portion (53) may include a plurality of non-woven layers (55) arranged along the radial direction. The plurality of non-woven layers (55) may be defined as ends of rolled non-woven layers protruding in a direction parallel to the winding axis (a direction parallel to the Z-axis). The plurality of non-woven layers (55) may be configured to be bent by pressure. The bent non-woven layers (55) may overlap each other. The plurality of non-woven layers (55) may be bent toward the core (c) side. The plurality of non-woven layers (55) may be bent irregularly.

[0099] A plurality of non-coated layers (55) can be folded toward the core side so as to overlap each other to form a flat folded surface area (f) that is substantially perpendicular to the winding axis direction (Z). The folded surface area (f) can be a substantially flat surface facing upward formed by the plurality of non-coated layers (55). The folded surface area (f) can be used as a welding area of ​​a current collector plate (e.g., the first current collector plate (180) of FIG. 9). The folded surface area (f) can include an area where the plurality of non-coated layers (55) are overlapped in multiple layers to achieve sufficient welding strength. When the plurality of non-coated layers (55) are folded toward the core side to form the folded surface area (f), the electrode assembly (50) whose upper portion is surrounded by the folded surface area (f) can function as a single mass. In other words, when a thermal event occurs within the battery (100), the portion surrounded by the bending surface area (f) may be discharged to the outside of the battery (100) in the form of a single lump.

[0100] The cut portion (54) may include a cutting surface that is substantially perpendicular to the winding axis direction (Z). For example, the cutting surface may be configured to be cut through a notching process. For example, the cutting surface may be an ultrasonic cutting surface. Meanwhile, the cut portion (54) may be an area where part or all of the plain portion (51) is removed as illustrated in the drawings of the present invention, such that the length of the plain portion (51) is formed to be shorter than the surrounding area. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the length of the plain portion (51) in the cut portion (54) may be formed to be substantially the same as the length of the plain portion (51) around the cut portion (54) (the length before bending).

[0101] According to one embodiment, the winding turn portion (52) can be divided into a bend portion (53) and a cut portion (54). In other words, the winding turn portion (52) can include a bend portion (53) and a cut portion (54). The radial width of the bend portion (53) can be a first width (r1), and the radial width of the cut portion (54) can be a second width (r2). The arrangement and ratio of the cut portion (54) and the bend portion (53) can be variously designed and changed depending on the embodiment.

[0102] According to one embodiment, the first part of the winding turn portion (52) may mean a folded portion (53), and the second part may mean a cut portion (54). That is, the folded portion (53) may be positioned toward the core in the radial direction, and the cut portion (54) may be positioned outside the folded portion (53) in the radial direction. For example, the folded portion (53) may be positioned at a position corresponding to or inside the inner end (121c) (see FIG. 9), which is the innermost part of the beading portion (121) of the battery (100), and the cut portion (54) may be positioned outside the folded portion (53). In this case, when a thermal event occurs within the battery (100), the path of the folded portion (53) may not be restricted or obstructed when it is discharged to the outside of the battery (100). That is, the bending portion (53) can be easily discharged without hitting the beading portion (121) when discharged to the outside of the battery (100).

[0103] According to one embodiment, the electrode assembly (50) may be divided into a first region (S1) surrounded by a folded portion (53) and a folded surface area (f) on the upper side, and a second region (S2) excluding the first region (S1). The first region (S1) of the electrode assembly (50) may correspond to the folded portion (53), and the second region (S2) of the electrode assembly (50) may correspond to the cut portion (54). That is, the folded portion (53) may be positioned at the upper portion of the first region (S1) of the electrode assembly (50), and the cut portion (54) may be positioned at the upper portion of the second region (S2). The first region (S1) may be surrounded by the second region (S2). For example, the first region (S1) may have a cylindrical shape that is narrower than the electrode assembly (50). For example, the second region (S2) may have a hollow shape with an open interior. The first region (S1) may be positioned inside the inner end (121c), which is the innermost part of the beading portion (121) of the battery (100).

[0104] In this way, the electrode assembly (50) according to one embodiment of the present invention may have a structure in which a region located radially inward is not connected to a region located outside thereof. Specifically, in the first region (S1) of the electrode assembly (50) of the present invention, an overlapping structure is formed due to the bending between the non-coated layers (55), so that the non-coated layers (55) are connected to each other. However, such a connecting structure due to the overlapping is not formed between the non-coated layers (55) provided in the first region (S1) and the non-coated layers (55) provided in the second region (S2). Therefore, the first region (S1) and the second region (S2) of the electrode assembly (50) can be separated from each other by a force acting in the up-down direction (the direction parallel to the Z-axis).

[0105] In this case, when a thermal event occurs within the battery (100), the path of the first region (S1) may not be restricted or obstructed when discharged to the outside of the battery (100). That is, the first region (S1) may be easily discharged without hitting the beading portion (121) when discharged to the outside of the battery (100).

[0106] An electrode assembly (50) according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a jelly roll type battery (100).

[0107] Preferably, the battery (100) may be, for example, a battery (100) having a form factor ratio (defined as the ratio of the diameter (Φ) to the height (H) of the battery (100) divided by the height) of greater than about 0.4.

[0108] Here, the form factor refers to a value indicating the diameter and height of the battery (100). The battery (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be, for example, a 46110 battery (100), a 4875 battery (100), a 48110 battery (100), a 4880 battery (100), or a 4680 battery (100). In the numerical value indicating the form factor, the first two numbers indicate the diameter of the battery (100), and the remaining numbers indicate the height of the battery (100).

[0109] When an electrode assembly (50) having a tab-less structure is applied to a battery (100) having a form factor ratio exceeding 0.4, the stress applied in the radial direction when bending the non-coated portion (51) is large, so that the non-coated portion (51) is easily torn. In addition, when welding a current collecting plate to the bending surface (56) area of ​​the non-coated portion (51), the number of overlapping layers of the non-coated portion (51) must be sufficiently increased in order to sufficiently secure welding strength and lower resistance. These requirements can be achieved by the electrode and electrode assembly (50) according to embodiments (modified examples) of the present invention.

[0110] A battery (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be a battery (100) having a roughly cylindrical shape, a diameter of approximately 46 mm, a height of approximately 110 mm, and a form factor ratio of 0.418.

[0111] A battery (100) according to another embodiment may be a battery (100) having a roughly cylindrical shape, a diameter of about 48 mm, a height of about 75 mm, and a form factor ratio of 0.640.

[0112] According to another embodiment, a battery (100) may be a battery (100) having a roughly cylindrical shape, a diameter of about 48 mm, a height of about 110 mm, and a form factor ratio of 0.436.

[0113] According to another embodiment, a battery (100) may be a battery (100) having a roughly cylindrical shape, a diameter of about 48 mm, a height of about 80 mm, and a form factor ratio of 0.600.

[0114] According to another embodiment, a battery (100) may be a battery (100) having a roughly cylindrical shape, a diameter of about 46 mm, a height of about 80 mm, and a form factor ratio of 0.575.

[0115] Conventionally, batteries (100) having a form factor ratio of approximately 0.4 or less have been used. That is, conventionally, for example, an 1865 battery (100), a 2170 battery (100), etc. have been used. In the case of the 1865 battery (100), the diameter is approximately 18 mm, the height is approximately 65 mm, and the form factor ratio is 0.277. In the case of the 2170 battery (100), the diameter is approximately 21 mm, the height is approximately 70 mm, and the form factor ratio is 0.300.

[0116] Hereinafter, a battery (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0117] Fig. 7 is a drawing showing the exterior of a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the lower structure of a battery (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0118] Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, a battery (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an electrode assembly (50) including a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode wound in a jelly roll shape, a battery housing (120) for accommodating the electrode assembly (50), a cap (130) having a plate shape, and a terminal (140). The configuration of the electrode assembly (50) of FIGS. 7 to 9 may be all or part of the same as the configuration of the electrode assembly (50) of FIGS. 1 to 6. The embodiments of FIGS. 7 to 9 may be partially combined with the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0119] A battery (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be, for example, a cylindrical battery. The battery (100) may include an electrode assembly (50), a housing (120), a plate-shaped cap (130), and a terminal (140). In addition to the above-described components, the battery (100) may further include an insulating gasket (150) and / or a current collecting plate (160, 180) and / or an insulator (170) and / or a sealing gasket (190). The present invention is not limited by the shape of the battery, and may be applied to batteries of other shapes, for example, square batteries.

[0120] The battery housing (120) is a roughly cylindrical container with an opening formed at the bottom, and may include a conductive material such as metal, for example. For example, the material of the battery housing (120) may be steel, stainless steel, nickel-plated iron, etc. The bottom of the battery housing (120) with the opening is referred to as the open end. The upper surface located opposite the opening (or open end) is referred to as the closed portion or the closed end. The side surface (outer circumference) of the battery housing (120) and the closed portion may be formed integrally. Alternatively, the side walls of the battery housing (120) and the closed portion may be provided separately and joined to each other by welding or the like. The upper surface (the surface parallel to the XY plane) of the battery housing (120), i.e., the outer surface (120a) of the closed portion, may have a roughly flat shape. The battery housing (120) accommodates an electrode assembly (50) through an opening formed at the bottom, and can also accommodate an electrolyte.

[0121] The battery housing (120) can be electrically connected to the electrode assembly (50). The housing (120) can be electrically connected, for example, to the negative electrode non-conducting portion (51b) of the electrode assembly (50). In this case, the battery housing (120) can have the same polarity as the negative electrode non-conducting portion (51b).

[0122] The battery housing (120) may have a beading portion (121) and a crimping portion (122) formed at the bottom thereof. The beading portion (121) may be located at the bottom of the electrode assembly (50). The beading portion (121) may be formed by pressing the outer circumference of the battery housing (120). In other words, the beading portion (121) may have a shape in which the outer circumference of the battery housing (120) is recessed inward. More specifically, the beading portion (121) may have a shape in which it is pressed inward in the area between the opening formed at one side of the battery housing (120) and the receiving portion that receives the electrode assembly (50). The upper beading portion (121a) and the lower beading portion (121b), which are respectively located above and below the innermost portion (121c) of the beading portion (121) located at the innermost side along the pressing direction, may have an asymmetrical shape. This asymmetrical shape may be formed in a process in which the battery housing (120) is compressed along the height direction (the direction parallel to the Z-axis) through a sizing process. The sizing process is a process in which the battery housing (120) is pressed along the winding axis direction of the electrode assembly (50) to adjust the height of the battery (100) to the designed form factor.

[0123] The lower beading portion (121b) may have a flat portion that is approximately parallel to the closed portion of the battery housing (120). On the other hand, due to the asymmetrical formation, the upper beading portion (121a) may have a shape that is at least partially inclined upward along the direction toward the inner end (121c). Accordingly, the upper beading portion (121a) may press and fix the lower portion of the electrode assembly (50). The beading portion (121) may prevent the electrode assembly (50), which has a size approximately corresponding to the inner diameter of the battery housing (120), from coming out through the opening formed at the lower end of the battery housing (120), and may function as a support portion on which the cap (130) is seated. The lower beading portion (121b) may function as a support portion for fixing not only the cap (130) described below, but also the contact portion (183a) of the current collecting plate (180), the sealing gasket (190), etc.

[0124] The crimping portion (122) may be formed at the lower portion of the beading portion (121). The crimping portion (122) may extend from the lower beading portion (121b). The crimping portion (122) may have an extended and bent shape so as to surround the outer circumference of the cap (130) positioned below the beading portion (121) and a portion of the lower surface of the cap (130). The crimping portion (122) may fix a sealing gasket (190) in addition to the cap (130).

[0125] However, the present invention does not exclude the case where the battery housing (120) does not have the beading portion (121) and / or the crimping portion (122). In the present invention, when the battery housing (120) does not have the beading portion (121) and / or the crimping portion (122), fixing of the electrode assembly (50) and / or fixing of the cap (130) and / or sealing of the battery housing (120) can be realized, for example, by additionally applying a component that can function as a stopper for the electrode assembly (50) and / or additionally applying a structure on which the cap (130) can be seated and / or welding between the battery housing (120) and the cap (130).

[0126] Meanwhile, the battery housing (120) may be configured to have different thicknesses depending on the location. The battery housing (120) may be formed so that the thickness of the side wall portion is thinner than the thickness of the closed portion. In this configuration, the diameter of the electrode assembly (50) can be formed larger, which may be advantageous in terms of energy density.

[0127] The battery housing (120) may have a thickness, for example, in the range of about 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm for the closed portion, i.e., the area forming the upper surface, and more preferably, in the range of about 0.6 mm to 1.0 mm. If the thickness of the closed portion of the battery housing (120) is too thin, there may be a high risk of deformation of the battery housing (120) during pressure increase or welding. Conversely, if the thickness of the closed portion of the battery housing (120) is too thick, it may be disadvantageous in terms of processing of the battery housing (120) and may result in a high loss in energy density. Therefore, it is necessary to manage the thickness of the closed portion of the battery housing (120) at an appropriate level.

[0128] Meanwhile, the side wall forming the outer surface of the battery housing (120) may have a thickness of, for example, approximately 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm, and more preferably, approximately 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. If the side wall of the battery housing (120) is too thin, there is a high possibility that the fire will spread to the neighboring batteries (100) when the battery (100) catches fire and explodes. For example, in a battery pack (300) including a plurality of batteries (100), if an abnormality occurs in some of the batteries (100) and catches fire and explodes, if the side wall of the battery housing (120) is too thin, a pin hole may be formed, thereby increasing the risk of chain fire and explosion. On the other hand, if the side wall of the battery housing (120) is too thick, it may be disadvantageous in terms of processing of the battery housing (120), and loss in terms of energy density may increase. Therefore, it is necessary to manage the thickness of the side wall of the battery housing (120) to an appropriate level. Meanwhile, a plating layer may be formed on the battery housing (120). In this case, the plating layer may include, for example, nickel (Ni). The thickness of the plating layer may be in the range of approximately 1.5 μm to 6.0 μm.

[0129] The cap (130) may be made of, for example, a metal material to ensure rigidity. The cap (130) may seal an opening (or open end) formed at the bottom of the battery housing (120). That is, the cap (130) may form the lower surface of the battery (100). In the battery (100) of the present invention, even if the cap (130) is made of a conductive metal material, it may not have polarity. Not having polarity may mean that the cap (130) is not electrically connected to the electrode assembly (50). In this way, when the cap (130) is not electrically connected to the electrode assembly (50), the cap (130) may not function as a positive terminal or a negative terminal. That is, in the present invention, the cap (130) does not need to be electrically connected to the electrode assembly (50) and the battery housing (120), and its material does not necessarily need to be a conductive metal.

[0130] When the battery housing (120) of the present invention has a beading portion (121), the cap (130) can be supported by the lower surface of the beading portion (121) formed on the battery housing (120). In addition, when the battery housing (120) of the present invention has a crimping portion (122), the cap (130) can be fixed by the crimping portion (122). That is, the upper surface of the cap (130) can be supported by the beading portion (121), and the outer peripheral surface and the lower surface can be supported by the beading portion (121). A sealing gasket (190) can be interposed between the cap (130) and the crimping portion (122) of the battery housing (120) to ensure the sealing of the battery housing (120). Meanwhile, as described above, the battery housing (120) of the present invention may not have a beading portion (121) and / or a crimping portion (122), in which case the sealing gasket (190) may be interposed between a structure for fixing provided on the open side of the battery housing (120) and a cap (130) to ensure airtightness of the battery housing (120).

[0131] The cap (130) may further include a venting portion (131) formed to prevent the internal pressure from increasing beyond a preset value due to gas generated inside the battery housing (120). The preset internal pressure value may be approximately 15 to 35 kgf / cm2. That is, the rupture pressure of the venting portion (131) may be approximately 15 to 35 kgf / cm2. The venting portion (131) corresponds to a region of the cap (130) that has a thinner thickness than the surrounding region. The venting portion (131) is structurally weaker than the surrounding region. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the battery (100) and the internal pressure of the battery housing (120) increases above a certain level, the venting portion (131) is ruptured and the gas generated inside the battery housing (120) is discharged. The above venting portion (131) can be formed, for example, by notching on one side or both sides of the cap (130) to partially reduce the thickness of the battery housing (120).

[0132] An electrode assembly (50) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first region (S1) surrounded by a bending portion (53) and a bending surface area (f), and a second region (S2) excluding the first region (S1), and the first region (S1) and the second region (S2) can be distinguished based on the beading portion (121). That is, the first region (S1) can be formed inside the inner end (121c), which is the innermost portion of the beading portion (121). The bending portion (53) can be arranged at a position corresponding to the inner end (121c), which is the innermost portion of the beading portion (121) of the battery (100), or further inside. Referring to FIG. 9, the length of the second width (r2), which is the radial width of the cut portion (54) of the second region (S2), may be equal to or longer than the length (d) of the inner end (121c), which is the innermost portion of the beading portion (121), which is indented. At this time, the first region (S1) may function as a single mass bound by the bending and overlapping of the non-woven layers. In addition, the movement of the first region (S1) in the vertical direction (parallel to the Z-axis) may not be restricted by the second region (S2). Therefore, when a thermal event occurs within the battery (100), the first region (S1) positioned at a position where the movement is not restricted by the beading portion (121) can be easily discharged to the outside of the battery (100) when the battery (100) is ruptured due to an increase in the internal pressure of the battery (100). For example, when the venting portion (131) provided in the cap (130) is broken due to an increase in the internal pressure of the battery housing (120), the first region (S1) of the electrode assembly (50) is not restricted in its movement by the beading portion (121) and the second region (S2) and can be easily discharged to the outside of the battery housing (120). In this way, when a significant portion of the electrode assembly (50) is easily discharged to the outside when a thermal event occurs, the effect of quickly removing the internal heat source of the battery housing (120) can be brought about, thereby quickly ending the thermal event.

[0133] Fig. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the lower structure of a battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0134] An electrode assembly (50) according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a first region (S1) surrounded by a bending portion (53) and a bending surface area (f), and a second region (S2) excluding the first region (S1), and the first region (S1) and the second region (S2) can be distinguished based on the crimping portion (122). That is, the first region (S1) can be formed inside the innermost portion (122a) of the crimping portion (122). The bending portion (53) can be arranged at a position corresponding to the innermost portion (122a) of the crimping portion (122) of the battery (100) or further inside. The innermost portion (122a) of the crimping portion (122) can mean the innermost portion in the radial direction.

[0135] The crimping portion (122) may be formed at the lower portion of the beading portion (121). The crimping portion (122) may have an extended and bent shape to surround the outer circumference of the cap (130) positioned below the beading portion (121) and a portion of the lower surface of the cap (130). The crimping portion (122) may fix a sealing gasket (190) in addition to the cap (130). The innermost portion (122a) of the crimping portion (122) may mean a bent end extended to surround the lower surface of the cap (30).

[0136] For example, the crimping portion (122) may be located radially inward of the beading portion (121).

[0137] Accordingly, when a thermal event occurs within the battery (100), the first region (S1) can be easily discharged to the outside of the battery (100). Specifically, when a thermal event occurs within the battery (100), the cap (130) can be separated from the crimping portion (122). At this time, since the bending portion (53) and the first region (S1) are located radially inward of the crimping portion (122), the movement is not restricted by the crimping portion (122) to limit external discharge, and the heat can be easily discharged to the outside of the battery housing (120). In this way, when a significant portion of the electrode assembly (50) is easily discharged to the outside when a thermal event occurs, the effect of quickly removing the heat source within the battery housing (120) can be achieved.

[0138] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the lower structure of a battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0139] An electrode assembly (50) according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a first region (S1) surrounded by a bending portion (53) and a bending surface area (f), and a second region (S2) excluding the first region (S1), and the first region (S1) and the second region (S2) can be distinguished based on the venting portion (131). That is, the first region (S1) can be formed radially inward of the venting portion (131). The bending portion (53) can be arranged at a position corresponding to the venting portion (131) of the battery (100) or radially inward therefrom.

[0140] The cap (130) may further include a venting portion (131) formed to prevent the internal pressure from increasing beyond a preset value due to gas generated inside the battery housing (120). If an abnormality occurs in the battery (100) and the internal pressure of the battery housing (120) increases above a certain level, the venting portion (131) is broken, and the gas generated inside the battery housing (120) is discharged. The venting portion (131) may be formed, for example, by notching on one side or both sides of the cap (130) to partially reduce the thickness of the battery housing (120).

[0141] When a thermal event occurs within the battery (100), the venting portion (131) may be broken regardless of whether the cap (130) is separated from the crimping portion (122). Therefore, when a thermal event occurs within the battery (100), the first region (S1) may be easily discharged to the outside of the battery (100). When a thermal event occurs within the battery (100), the first region (S1) may be easily discharged to the outside of the battery (100) through the broken venting portion (131). Specifically, at this time, since the bending portion (53) and the first region (S1) are located radially inward of the venting portion (131), the external discharge is not blocked by the venting portion (131), and the external discharge can be easily discharged to the outside of the battery housing (120). In this way, when a significant portion of the electrode assembly (50) is easily discharged to the outside when a thermal event occurs, the effect of quickly removing the heat source inside the battery housing (120) can be achieved.

[0142]

[0143] FIG. 12 is a drawing schematically showing the configuration of a battery pack (300) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0144] Referring to FIG. 12, a battery pack (300) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery (100) assembly electrically connected thereto and a pack housing (301) accommodating the same. The battery (100) may be any one of the batteries (100) according to the above-described embodiments (modified examples). In the drawing, for convenience of illustration, components such as a bus bar, a cooling unit, and an external terminal for electrical connection of the batteries (100) are omitted. The structure of a plurality of batteries (100) for manufacturing the battery pack (300) has been exemplarily described above.

[0145] FIG. 13 is a drawing for explaining a vehicle (V) including the battery pack (300) of FIG. 12.

[0146] Referring to FIG. 13, a vehicle (V) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a battery pack (300) according to one embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle (V) may operate by receiving power from the battery pack (300) according to one embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle (V) may be, for example, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The vehicle (V) includes a four-wheel vehicle or a two-wheel vehicle.

[0147]

[0148] As described above, although the present invention has been described by limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and variations are possible by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims to be described below.

Claims

1. An electrode assembly comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween, At least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode includes a non-conductive portion at the long end, A winding turn part of the non-conductive part is provided at one end of the electrode assembly, An electrode assembly comprising a bending portion including a plurality of non-conductive layers configured to be bent by a cutting portion and a pressurizing portion.

2. In paragraph 1, The above bending part is located on the core side based on the radial direction, An electrode assembly characterized in that the cut portion is located outside the bend portion based on the radial direction.

3. In paragraph 1, An electrode assembly characterized in that the above-mentioned bending portion is positioned corresponding to or further inward than the innermost portion of the beading portion of the battery.

4. In paragraph 1, An electrode assembly characterized in that the plurality of non-conductive layers are folded toward the core side of the electrode assembly and overlap each other to form a folded surface area.

5. In paragraph 4, An electrode assembly characterized in that the electrode assembly is divided into a first region surrounded by the bending portion and the bending surface region and a second region excluding the first region.

6. In paragraph 1, An electrode assembly characterized in that the above-mentioned cutting portion includes a cutting surface substantially perpendicular to the axial direction.

7. In paragraph 6, An electrode assembly characterized in that the above cutting surface is configured to be cut through a notching process.

8. In paragraph 6, An electrode assembly characterized in that the above cutting surface is an ultrasonic cutting surface.

9. In paragraph 1, An electrode assembly characterized in that the above-mentioned bending portion is positioned corresponding to the innermost portion of the crimping portion of the battery or further inward.

10. In paragraph 1, An electrode assembly characterized in that the above-mentioned bending portion is positioned corresponding to or further inward than the venting portion of the battery.

11. Electrode assembly according to paragraph 1; A battery housing comprising an open end and an opposite closed end, wherein the electrode assembly is received through the open end and is electrically connected to the electrode assembly; A beaded portion in which the outer circumference of the battery housing is indented inward; A cap sealing the open end of the battery housing; A terminal electrically connected to the above electrode assembly and having a surface exposed to the outside; and A battery comprising a current collecting plate electrically connected to either the battery housing or the terminal.

12. In paragraph 11, The above-mentioned bending portion is positioned inside the innermost portion of the above-mentioned beading portion, A battery characterized in that the cut portion is positioned outside the innermost portion of the beading portion.

13. In paragraph 11, A battery characterized in that the plurality of non-conductive layers overlap toward the core side of the electrode assembly to form a folded surface area.

14. In paragraph 13, The electrode assembly is divided into a first region surrounded by the bending portion and the bending surface area and a second region excluding the first region, A battery characterized in that when a thermal event occurs within the battery, the first region is configured to be discharged to the outside of the battery.

15. In paragraph 11, It further includes a crimping portion formed at the lower portion of the beading portion and configured to wrap a portion of the outer surface of the cap, The above-mentioned bending portion is positioned corresponding to the innermost portion of the above-mentioned crimping portion or further inward, A battery characterized in that the cutting portion is positioned outside the innermost portion of the crimping portion.

16. In paragraph 11, The above cap has a venting portion configured to rupture when the internal pressure of the battery housing increases above a certain level, The above-mentioned bending portion is positioned corresponding to the above-mentioned venting portion or further inward, A battery characterized in that the cut portion is positioned outside the venting portion.

17. A battery pack comprising a battery according to any one of claims 11 to 16.

18. A vehicle including a battery pack according to Article 17.

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