Abstract: Methods and devices are provided herein for connecting a plurality of cathode structures to a cathode busbar within an electrode assembly of a secondary battery. Each cathode structure includes a cathode active material layer and a current collector, wherein the cathode current collector has an end portion that extends beyond the cathode active material layer. The end portions of the cathode structures are attached to the cathode busbar via two adhesive polymer strips that enable strong mechanical and electrical connections between the cathode structures and the cathode busbar.

Abstract: An electrode assembly includes unit cells stacked in a longitudinal direction, each unit cell including an electrode structure, a separator, and a counter-electrode structure. The electrode structure includes an electrode current collector and an electrode active material layer. The counter-electrode structure includes a counter-electrode current collector and a counter-electrode active material layer. An end portion of the counter-electrode current collector extends past the counter-electrode active material and the separator. The end portion of the counter-electrode current collector is bent to define a bent end portion of the respective counter-electrode current collector. The bent end portions of at least some of the counter-electrode current collectors overlap the bent end portion of an adjacent counter-electrode current collector.

Abstract: A secondary battery assembly includes an electrode assembly having mutually perpendicular transverse, longitudinal, and vertical axes corresponding to the X, Y and Z axes, respectively, of a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. The electrode assembly defines a population of faces, each face defined by two of the transverse, longitudinal, and vertical axes. The secondary battery assembly also includes a population of first current collector tabs electrically coupled to a first bus bar extending along a first face of the electrode assembly, the first face extending in at least one of a Z-X plane defined by the Z and X axes or a Z-Y plane defined by the Z and Y axes. The second battery assembly also includes a reinforcement structure disposed over at least a portion of the first current collector tabs, the first current collector tabs extending along the first face. The reinforcement structure includes a polymer.