Electrode assembly

An electrode assembly comprising:

• a plurality of positive electrodes;
• a negative electrode;
• and
• a pair of separators,
• wherein the plurality of positive electrodes, the negative electrode, and the pair of separators are arranged along a stacking direction to define a stack,
• wherein the negative electrode has the pair of separators disposed on opposing surfaces of the negative electrode, and the negative electrode and the separators are collectively bent m times (where m is an integer satisfying 2≤m≤100) to follow a serpentine path traversing back and forth across the stack in a lateral dimension transverse to the stacking direction so as to define a plurality of layers, wherein outermost extremities of the negative electrode and the pair of separators in a first direction along the lateral dimension collectively define an outer side of the stack,
• wherein the plurality of positive electrodes includes n+1 positive electrodes (where n is an integer satisfying 1≤n≤99 and m=n+1) individually positioned between respective layers of the serpentine path defined by the negative electrode and the pair of separators, wherein each of the plurality of positive electrodes has an end portion at an outer edge of the respective positive electrode in the first direction along the lateral dimension, the end portions of the plurality of positive electrodes each being spaced in the lateral dimension from the outer side of the stack by a respective separation distance, wherein at least one of the end portions of the plurality of positive electrodes contacts at least one of the pair of separators, and
• wherein the separation distance of an nth one of the plurality of positive electrodes and the separation distance of an (n+1)th one of the plurality of positive electrodes vary from one another by an amount within a range of 10 μm to 2 mm.