EP-4742434-A2 - BATTERY CELL COMPRISING GUIDE STRUCTURE AND BATTERY MODULE COMPRISING SAME

EP4742434A2EP 4742434 A2EP4742434 A2EP 4742434A2EP-4742434-A2

Abstract

Provided according to the present disclosure is a battery cell comprising: an electrode assembly including a current collector; an electrode tab connected to the current collector; and a guide structure disposed between the electrode assembly and the electrode tab. The guide structure may comprise: a first guide structure including a plurality of first slits in which the current collector is accommodated; and a second guide structure disposed between the first guide structure and the electrode tab and including at least one second slit in which the current collector is accommodated.

Inventors

RYU, Soo-Jy

Assignees

SK On Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20240325

Claims (15)

A battery cell comprising: an electrode assembly including a current collector; an electrode tab connected to the current collector; and a guide structure located between the electrode assembly and the electrode tab, wherein the guide structure includes: a first guide structure including a plurality of first slits accommodating the current collector; and a second guide structure located between the first guide structure and the electrode tab, and including at least one second slit accommodating the current collector.
The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the current collector includes: a plurality of current collectors connected to the electrode assembly; a plurality of first joining regions to which at least a portion of the plurality of current collectors is joined; and a second joining region extending from the plurality of first joining regions and joined to the electrode tab.
The battery cell of claim 2, wherein the plurality of current collectors are located in the plurality of first slits, and at least a portion of the plurality of first joining regions is located in the at least one second slit.
The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the first guide structure includes a first surface facing the second guide structure and a second surface opposite to the first surface and facing the electrode assembly, and the plurality of first slits include a first outlet formed in the first surface and having a first width, and a first inlet formed in the second surface and having a second width, greater than the first width.
The battery cell of claim 4, wherein the first guide structure includes a first inclined surface extending from the first surface to the second surface and surrounding the plurality of first slits.
The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the second guide structure includes a third surface, at least a portion of which faces the electrode tab, and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface and facing the first guide structure, and the second slit includes a second outlet formed in the third surface and having a third width, and a second inlet formed in the fourth surface and having a fourth width greater than the third width.
The battery cell of claim 6, wherein the second guide structure includes a second inclined surface extending from the third surface to the fourth surface and surrounding the second slit.
The battery cell of claim 6, wherein the fourth width of the second slit is shorter than or equal to a distance between the plurality of first slits.
The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first slits include a first through-hole and a second through-hole spaced apart from the first through-hole.
The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the guide structure includes at least one of a polymer and ceramic.
The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the first guide structure is in contact with the second guide structure.
The battery cell of claim 1, further including a pouch accommodating the electrode assembly.
The battery cell of claim 12, wherein the guide structure is disposed in the pouch.
The battery cell of claim 12, wherein the electrode tab includes a first electrode tab facing in a first direction, and a second electrode tab facing in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, the electrode assembly includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and the current collector includes a first current collector connected to the positive electrode and the first electrode tab, and a second current collector connected to the negative electrode and the second electrode tab.
A battery module comprising: a plurality of battery cells; and a case accommodating the plurality of battery cells, wherein each of the plurality of battery cells includes: an electrode assembly including a current collector; an electrode tab connected to the current collector; and a guide structure located between the electrode assembly and the electrode tab, wherein the guide structure includes: a first guide structure including a plurality of first slits accommodating the current collector; and a second guide structure located between the first guide structure and the electrode tab, and including at least one second slit accommodating the current collector.

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a battery cell including a guide structure and a battery module including the same. Background Art Unlike a primary battery, a secondary battery may be charged with and discharged of electricity, and thus may be applied to devices within various fields such as a digital camera, a mobile phone, a notebook computer, a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, and an energy storage system (ESS). The secondary battery may be a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, or a nickel-hydrogen battery. Secondary batteries may be manufactured as pouch-type battery cells having flexibility or square or cylindrical can-type battery cells having rigidity. A plurality of battery cells may be formed as a cell assembly having a stacked form. The cell assembly may be disposed inside a case to form a battery module, and a plurality of battery modules may be disposed inside a pack housing to form a battery pack. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem A battery cell may include a plurality of current collectors connected to the electrode composite layer. The plurality of current collectors may be pre-welded with respect to each other and then joined to an electrode tab. However, the current collector may be damaged (e.g., disconnected) due to tension applied to the current collector or bending of the current collector. According to an aspect of the disclosure, a battery cell including a guide structure capable of reducing deformation (e.g., fracturing and bending) of a current collector of the battery cell may be provided. A battery cell and a battery module, of the present disclosure, may be widely applied to devices within green technology fields such as an electric vehicle, a battery charging station, and solar power generation, wind power generation, or the like using a battery. In addition, the battery cell and battery module of the present disclosure may be used in eco-friendly electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and the like for preventing climate change by suppressing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Solution to Problem A battery cell of the present disclosure may include an electrode assembly including a current collector, an electrode tab connected to the current collector, and a guide structure located between the electrode assembly and the electrode tab. The guide structure may include a first guide structure including a plurality of first slits accommodating the current collector, and a second guide structure located between the first guide structure and the electrode tab, and including at least one second slit accommodating the current collector. According to an embodiment, the current collector may include a plurality of current collectors connected to the electrode assembly; a plurality of first joining regions to which at least a portion of the plurality of current collectors are joined; and a second joining region extending from the plurality of first joining regions and joined to the electrode tab. According to an embodiment, the plurality of current collectors may be located in the plurality of first slits. At least a portion of the plurality of first joining regions may be located in the at least one second slit. According to an embodiment, the first guide structure may include a first surface facing the second guide structure and a second surface opposite to the first surface and facing the electrode assembly. The plurality of first slits may include a first outlet formed in the first surface and having a first width, and a first inlet formed in the second surface and having a second width, greater than the first width. According to an embodiment, the first guide structure may include a first inclined surface extending from the first surface to the second surface and surrounding the plurality of first slits. According to an embodiment, the second guide structure may include a third surface, at least a portion of which faces the electrode tab, and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface and facing the first guide structure. The second slit may include a second outlet formed in the third surface and having a third width, and a second inlet formed in the fourth surface and having a fourth width greater than the third width. According to an embodiment, the second guide structure may include a second inclined surface extending from the third surface to the fourth surface and surrounding the second slit. According to an embodiment, the fourth width of the second slit may be shorter than or equal to a distance between the plurality of first slits. According to an embodiment, the plurality of first slits may include a first through-hole and a second through-hole spaced apart from the first through-hole. According to an embodiment, the guide structure may include at least one of a polymer and ceramic. According to an embodiment, the first guide structure may be in contact with the second guide structure. Accordin