Foldable pouch-shaped battery cell and method of manufacturing the same

A pouch-shaped battery cell having an electrode assembly received in a pouch-shaped battery case, wherein

• the electrode assembly comprises positive electrodes and negative electrodes, each of the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes having a structure in which a length of the electrode in an overall width direction is less than a length of the electrode in an overall length direction,
• each of the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes has an uncoated portion, which is a portion not coated with an electrode mixture, extending parallel to outer peripheries of the electrode in the overall width direction or outer peripheries of the electrode in the overall length direction and a coated portion, which is coated with the electrode mixture, disposed at a remaining portion of the electrode excluding the uncoated portion, and
• a stepped structure is formed at a part of the pouch-shaped battery case adjacent to the uncoated portion, the stepped structure being recessed inwards from adjacent portions of the pouch-shaped battery case,
• wherein each of the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes has a first coated portion and a second coated portion disposed at opposite sides of the uncoated portion, and each of the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes is folded at a respective one of the uncoated portions,
• wherein each of the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes has a respective insulating member overlying outer surfaces of a part of a respective one of the uncoated portions and a portion of each respective coated portion, each insulating member serving as a border portion extending between the respective uncoated portion and the respective coated portion, and
• wherein the insulating members are only located adjacent to locations at which the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes are folded.