SECONDARY BATTERY

A secondary battery is provided in the present application. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a cathode and an anode facing the cathode, thermoelectric elements columns arranged on a surface of the electrode assembly, and a circuit structure that electrically connects the thermoelectric element columns. The circuit structure includes a series/parallel switching unit configured to switch a connection between the thermoelectric element columns from a series connection to a parallel connection or from a parallel connection to a series connection. The thermoelectric element columns are connected selectively in parallel or in series to improve rapid charging and life-span properties.