Electrode assembly of novel structure and process for preparation of the same

1. An electrochemical cell, comprising:

a first separator sheet;

a plurality of first unit electrodes on a first side of the first separator sheet;

an electrode tab extending from each first unit electrode;

a second electrode sheet on a second side of the first separator sheet, the second side being opposite the first side;

an electrode lead extending from the second electrode sheet; and

a second separator sheet,

wherein the first separator sheet is wound so that the first unit electrodes are opposite the second electrode sheet via the first separator sheet, and

wherein the plurality of first unit electrodes or second electrode sheet is between the first separator sheet and second separator sheet.

2. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode assembly is configured to have a structure in which, in a state in which the first unit electrodes and the second electrode sheet, between which the first separator sheet is disposed, are placed on the second separator sheet, the first unit electrodes, the second electrode sheet, the first separator sheet and the second separator sheet are sequentially wound by a width of each of the first unit electrodes in a longitudinal direction (a lengthwise direction) of the separator sheets.

3. The electrode assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the electrode assembly is configured to have a structure in which, in a state in which the second electrode sheet, the first separator sheet and the first unit electrodes are sequentially placed on the second separator sheet upward, the second electrode sheet, the first separator sheet, the first unit electrodes and the second separator sheet are sequentially wound by the width of each of the first unit electrodes in the longitudinal direction (the lengthwise direction) of the sheets.

4. The electrode assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the electrode assembly is configured to have a structure in which, in a state in which the first unit electrodes, the first separator sheet and the second electrode sheet are sequentially placed on the second separator sheet upward, the first unit electrodes, the first separator sheet, the second electrode sheet and the second separator sheet are sequentially wound by the width of each of the first unit electrodes in the longitudinal direction (the lengthwise direction) of the sheets.

5. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is a cathode and the second electrode is an anode.

6. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is an anode and the second electrode is a cathode.

7. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first unit electrodes are prepared by coating opposite major surfaces of a current collector of the first electrode with a first electrode active material, and

wherein the second electrode sheet is prepared by coating the opposite major surfaces of the current collector of the second electrode with a second electrode active material.

8. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second electrode sheet is attached to the top of the second separator sheet by thermal welding.

9. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first unit electrodes are alternately arranged with respect to the second electrode sheet so that the electrode tabs are located at the same region in a wound state.

10. The electrode assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first unit electrodes are arranged with respect to the second electrode sheet so that an interval between the first unit electrodes increases in a longitudinal direction.

11. The electrode assembly according to claim 2 , wherein an outermost end of the wound first separator sheet, the second separator sheet or the first separator sheet and the second separator sheet are fixed by thermal welding or an adhesive tape.

12. The electrode assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the first separator sheet and the second separator sheet are porous insulative films made of the same material or different materials.

13. The electrode assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the first separator sheet and the second separator sheet are made of one selected from a group consisting of micro porous polyethylene film, polypropylene film, multi-layered film prepared by a combination of the polyethylene film and the polypropylene film, and polymer film for a polymer electrolyte, such as polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylonitrile, and polyvinylidene fluoride hexafluoropropylene copolymer.

14. An electrochemical cell comprising an electrode assembly according to claim 1 .

15. The electrochemical cell according to claim 14 , wherein the electrochemical cell is a secondary battery.

16. The electrochemical cell according to claim 15 , wherein the secondary battery is a lithium secondary battery having lithium ions.

17. The electrochemical cell according to claim 15 , wherein the secondary battery is configured to have a structure in which the electrode assembly is mounted in a pouch-shaped case made of a laminate sheet comprising a metal layer and a resin layer.

18. A method of preparing an electrode assembly according to claim 1 , comprising:

a) cutting a first electrode sheet to prepare a plurality of first unit electrodes configured so that each of the first unit electrodes has an electrode tab formed at one side thereof;

b) attaching an electrode lead to a non-coated portion of a current collector, to which an electrode active material is not applied, to prepare a second electrode sheet;

c) sequentially winding the second electrode sheet, a first separator sheet, the first unit electrodes and a second separator sheet by a width of each of the first unit electrodes in a longitudinal direction (a lengthwise direction) of the sheets in a state in which the second electrode sheet, the first separator sheet and the first unit electrodes are sequentially placed on the second separator sheet upward; and

d) welding the electrode tabs of the first unit electrodes to the electrode lead.