Pouch-type lithium secondary battery

• US 7,585,589 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2005
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Kim, Joong-Hun
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut; Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US11/186,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20060019156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 429/94, 429/162, 429/180, 429/181, 429/184
• US Class Current: 429/184
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/126 comprising three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/178 for pouch or flexible bag cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/55 on the same side of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/553 Terminals adapted for prismatic, pouch or rectangular cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A pouch-type lithium secondary battery includes a battery unit having a positive plate, a separator, and a negative plate; a plurality of electrode tabs drawn from the positive and negative plates, respectively; a case having a space for receiving the battery unit and upper and lower sealing surfaces which are thermally fused to each other; a short-circuit prevention tape attached along the upper and lower sealing surfaces; and a polymer material coated on at least a portion of each electrode tab corresponding to the upper and lower sealing surfaces. A portion of the insulating tape exposed outside the sealing surface of the case is extended and the extended portion of the insulating tape comes in contact with the end portion of the sealing surface after being folded. Therefore, preventing an electrical short circuit between the electrode tab and the intermediate layer of the metal case is achieved.

Claims

1. A pouch-type lithium secondary battery including a battery unit having a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode being wound together, the pouch-type lithium secondary battery comprising;

a pair of electrode tabs drawn from the positive and negative electrodes, respectively;

a case, having a space to receive the battery unit, including upper and lower sealing surfaces of respective upper and lower portions which are thermally fused to each other and which allow first parts of the electrode tabs to extend to an exterior of the case;

a short-circuit prevention tape formed on an exterior of the case, the first parts of the electrode tabs being folded and having sufficient lengths so as to contact with the short-circuit prevention tape; and

a polymer material coated on at least a portion of second parts of each electrode tab which are inside of the case to seal the fusion of the upper and lower sealing surfaces around the second parts of the electrode tabs.

2. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 1, further comprising an insulating tape for wrapping the electrode tabs, wherein a portion of the insulating tape interposed between the upper and lower sealing surfaces is thermally fused to the upper and lower sealing surfaces, and an end portion of the insulating tape is exposed outside the case together with the first parts of the electrode tabs.

3. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 1, wherein the short-circuit prevention tape is attached in the widthwise direction of the upper and lower sealing surfaces.

4. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 1, wherein the first parts of the electrode tabs comprise exposed potions thereof, each exposed portion of the electrode tabs being disposed on the short-circuit prevention tape.

5. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 4, wherein the electrode tabs wrapped with the insulating tape are folded from an end portion of the upper or lower sealing surface toward the case.

6. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 5, wherein the insulating tape is folded together with the electrode tabs and comprises a portion contacting with an end portion of one of the upper and lower sealing surfaces when folded.

7. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 6, wherein the portion of the insulating tape contacting with the one of the upper and lower sealing surfaces completely wraps the electrode tabs to electrically insulate the electrode tabs and the case.

8. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 6, wherein the folded portion of the insulating tape overlaps with the short-circuit prevention tape.

9. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 6, wherein the folded portion of the insulating tape is at least 5% of the total width of the upper or lower sealing surface.

10. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 6, wherein the folded portion of the insulating tape ranges from 5 to 90% of the total width of the upper or lower sealing surface.

11. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 6, wherein the folded portion of the insulating tape ranges from 30 to 50% of the total width of the upper or lower sealing surface.

12. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 1, wherein the short-circuit prevention tape is located on one of the upper and lower sealing surfaces at the conversion of the upper and lower sealing surfaces.

13. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the case comprises a wall extending in a thickness direction of the battery unit, wherein the short-circuit prevention tape is located on the wall.

14. The pouch-type secondary battery of claim 1, wherein the first parts of the electrode tabs are folded into U-shapes.

15. The pouch-type secondary battery of claim 1, wherein the first parts of the electrode tabs are folded into S-shapes.

16. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 1, wherein the short circuit prevention material formed on the exterior of the case is selected from the group consisting of tape and a polymer layer.

17. A pouch-type lithium secondary battery including a battery unit having a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode being wound together with electrode tabs being drawn from the respective electrodes, the pouch-type lithium secondary battery comprising;

a case, having a space to receive the battery unit, including upper and lower sealing surfaces of respective upper and lower portions which are thermally fused to each other and which allow first parts of the electrode tabs to extend to an exterior of the case;

a short-circuit prevention tape attached to an exterior of the case, the first parts of the electrode tabs being folded and having sufficient lengths so as to contact with the short-circuit prevention tape;

a first polymer material to wrap a portion of the first parts of the electrode tabs; and

a second polymer material coated on at least a portion of second parts of each electrode tab which are inside of the case to seal the fusion of the upper and lower sealing surfaces around the second parts of the electrode tabs and to insulate the case.

18. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 17, wherein the short-circuit prevention tape is located on one of the upper and lower sealing surfaces at the conversion of the upper and lower sealing surfaces.

19. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 17, wherein the lower sealing surface of the case comprises a wall extending in a thickness direction of the battery unit, wherein the short-circuit prevention tape is located on the wall.

20. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 17, wherein the first parts of the electrode tabs are folded into U-shapes.

21. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 17, wherein the first parts of the electrode tabs are folded into S-shapes.

22. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery of claim 17, wherein the portion of the first parts of the electrode tabs is shorter than the entire length of the first parts of the electrode tabs.