Patent ID: 7842414

Claim:
A lithium secondary battery, comprising: an electrode assembly, comprising: a cathode plate having a cathode active material portion in which a cathode collector is coated with a cathode active material and an uncoated cathode portion composed only of the cathode collector; an anode plate having an anode active material portion in which an anode collector is coated with an anode active material and an anode uncoated portion composed only of the anode collector; a protection layer formed on an adjoining portion between an active material portion and an uncoated portion of a terminal end of one selected from the group consisting of one of the cathode plate, the anode plate and both of the cathode plate and the anode plate; and a separator interposed between the cathode plate and the anode plate; a case open to receive the electrode assembly and an electrolyte solution; and a cap assembly oriented to seal an upper opening of the case, with the protection layer comprised of a material having an affinity for the electrolyte solution due to the wettability and dispersibility of the material for the protection layer against an electrolyte solution.