Rechargeable battery

A rechargeable battery comprising;

• an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator between the first and second electrodes;
• a case receiving the electrode assembly;
• a cap plate coupled to the case;
• an electrode terminal connecting the electrode assembly to an outside of the cap plate;
• a first lead tab coupled to the first electrode at a first end of the electrode assembly and electrically connecting the first electrode and the electrode terminal;
• and
• a second lead tab coupled to the second electrode at a second end of the electrode assembly, the first end being opposite and spaced apart from the second end in a lengthwise direction of the electrode assembly,
• wherein the electrode assembly comprises:
• a first coated region of the first electrode;
• a second coated region of the second electrode;
• a second uncoated region of the second electrode at the second end of the electrode assembly;
• and
• a first uncoated region of the first electrode at the first end of the electrode assembly, the first uncoated region adjacent an end portion of the first coated region, the first uncoated region comprising a slant region extending toward the end portion of the first coated region, and a junction region connected to the slant region and coupled to the first lead tab, the junction region spaced apart from the end portion of the first coated region in the lengthwise direction, the first uncoated region having a through hole formed therein at least at the slant region and connecting an inner portion of the electrode assembly to an outside of the electrode assembly, the through hole being at least formed at a location between the first coated region and the first lead tab and spaced apart from a portion of the first lead tab that is directly connected to the first electrode in a direction opposite the lengthwise direction such that an open exhaust path is defined by the through hole from a first side of the first uncoated region to a second side of the first uncoated region in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction.