NOVELTY - A separator comprises a nonwoven fabric base with pores, fine thermoplastic powders put in the pores of the nonwoven fabric base, and a porous coating layer disposed on the side(s) of the nonwoven fabric base. The powders have an average particle size smaller than that of the pores and a melting point lower than the melting point or decomposition temperature of the nonwoven fabric base. The porous coating layer contains a mixture of inorganic particles and a binder polymer.    USE - Separator is used in electrochemical device e.g. lithium secondary battery (both claimed). Can also be used for capacitors, fuel cells, solar cells, and supercapacitors.    ADVANTAGE - The separator has a uniform porous coating layer since such a porous coating layer is formed after filling large pores formed in the nonwoven fabric base with fine thermoplastic powders first. Therefore, by using the nonwoven fabric base as the separator, an increase in constant voltage interval due to a failure in charging or the occurrence of a leak current is prevented. With the fine thermoplastic powders, the separator has a shutdown function and maintains cell stability even during a thermal runaway by the uniform porous coating layer.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A separator comprises a nonwoven fabric base with pores, fine thermoplastic powders put in the pores of the nonwoven fabric base, and a porous coating layer disposed on the side(s) of the nonwoven fabric base. The powders have an average particle size smaller than that of the pores and a melting point lower than the melting point or decomposition temperature of the nonwoven fabric base. The porous coating layer contains a mixture of inorganic particles and a binder polymer having a melting point or decomposition temperature higher than the melting point of the fine thermoplastic powders. The inorganic particles are interconnected and fixed with one another by the binder polymer, and interstitial volumes among the inorganic particles form pores in the porous coating layer. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) manufacture of separator; and    (2) electrochemical device.