Electrode assembly and method for manufacturing the same

An electrode assembly, comprising:

• a first electrode in the form of a single sheet that is repetitively in-folded and out-folded at a predetermined interval, the first electrode being a single-sided electrode in which a first electrode active material is applied to only a first surface of a first electrode collector and not to a second surface of the electrode collector opposite to the first surface;
• a plurality of second electrodes interposed in spaces formed by in-folding the first electrode, each of the plurality of second electrodes being interposed only in a corresponding one of the spaces formed by in-folding the first electrode;
• a separator in the form of a single sheet that is interposed between the first electrode and the plurality of second electrodes so as to be repetitively in-folded and out-folded at the predetermined interval together with the first electrode;
• and
• an insulating part in the form of a single film disposed on the second surface of the first electrode collector, the insulating part having adjacent confronting portions that are in surface contact with one another wherein the second surface of the first electrode collector has adjacent confronting portions that face one another with only the insulating part therebetween.

A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, the method comprising:

• stacking a separator in the form of a single sheet on a first surface of a first electrode in the form of a single sheet;
• seating a plurality of second electrodes on the separator, the plurality of second electrodes spaced from each other at a predetermined interval on the separator so as to form an electrode stack;
• and
• in-folding and out-folding the first electrode and the separator to fold the electrode stack,
• wherein the first electrode is a single-sided electrode in which a first electrode active material is applied to only a first surface of a first electrode collector, and a second surface of the first electrode collector opposite to the first surface does not have the first electrode active material thereon, the second surface of the first electrode collector having adjacent confronting portions that are in surface contact with one another, and
• the plurality of second electrodes are each a double-sided electrode in which a second electrode active material is applied to first and second opposite surfaces of a second electrode collector, and each of the plurality of second electrodes is interposed only in a corresponding one of the spaces formed by in-folding the first electrode.