Electrode assembly having member for holding electrodes and secondary battery comprising the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a stacking type electrode assembly constructed in a cathode/separator/anode structure, wherein the electrode assembly is provided at a predetermined region thereof with at least one through-hole, and a pair of holding members (a male coupling member and a female coupling member) constructed in a male-female coupling type structure is inserted through the through-hole inside a battery case, an outer surface of the female coupling member being brought into tight contact with the through-hole when the male coupling member is inserted into the female coupling member while the female coupling member having an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the through-hole is inserted through the through-hole, and a secondary battery including the same. The electrode assembly according to the present invention has the effect of restraining the cathodes and the anodes from being moved separately from the separators, when an external force is applied to the electrode assembly, thereby preventing the occurrence of internal short circuits, and eventually, improving the safety of a secondary battery including the electrode assembly. Furthermore, the electrode assembly according to the present invention has the effect of restraining the movement of the electrodes due to repetitive contraction and expansion of the electrode assembly during the charge and discharge of the secondary battery.