Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Patent Landscape 2026
Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Patent Landscape in 2026
The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) patent field is in a mature phase, with annual filing volume having eased from its 2018 peak while the broader corpus of 1,321 patent families reflects sustained, multi-year investment. Fujikura Ltd holds a commanding lead, with Samsung SDI and Sharp rounding out a competitive but moderately concentrated field dominated by Japanese and Korean industry incumbents.
Fujikura leads a field shaped by Japanese and Korean incumbents
Fujikura Ltd stands clearly atop the applicant ranking, followed by Samsung SDI Co Ltd and Sharp Corp. The top five filers collectively account for twenty-two percent of the hundred largest filers’ combined total, indicating moderate concentration rather than outright monopoly.
A visible tier gap separates Fujikura from the rest: its patent record count is more than fifty percent larger than the second-ranked Samsung SDI. Below the top three, the gap narrows considerably, with Dongjin Semichem, Sony Group, and Fujifilm sitting within a relatively tight band, suggesting meaningful competitive pressure in the mid-tier.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fujikura Ltd | 483 | |
| 2 | Samsung SDI Co Ltd | 307 | |
| 3 | Sharp Corporation | 252 | |
| 4 | Dongjin Semichem Co Ltd | 236 | |
| 5 | Sony Group Corporation | 226 | |
| 6 | Fujifilm Corporation | 220 | |
| 7 | Dai Nippon Printing Co Ltd | 181 | |
| 8 | Merck Patent GmbH | 161 | |
| 9 | Industrial Technology Research Institute | 148 | |
| 10 | LG Innotek Co Ltd | 144 |
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | KOREA INST OF SCI & TECH | 134 | |
| 12 | ELECTRONICS & TELECOMM RES INST | 133 | |
| 13 | LG Electronics Inc | 117 | |
| 14 | NIPPON STEEL CHEM & MATERIAL CO LTD | 115 | |
| 15 | Zeon Corporation | 99 | |
| 16 | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 97 | |
| 17 | Sekisui Chemical Co Ltd | 96 | |
| 18 | Kyushu Institute of Technology | 92 | |
| 19 | Hyundai Motor Co Ltd | 89 | |
| 20 | CubicPV Inc | 88 |
The leaders’ positions imply deep, long-standing commitments to core DSSC device architecture and photoelectrode technology. Their portfolios span semiconductor device, electrochemical cell, and capacitor classifications, reflecting vertically integrated R&D programs rather than narrow component-level bets.
Filing counts for 2024 and 2025 are subject to publication lag and should be treated as undercounts; the apparent drop in those years does not necessarily reflect reduced industry activity. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Filing activity has eased from its 2018 peak; semiconductor device classification dominates the technology mix
The annual filing trend and technology composition charts together reveal a field that crested around 2018 and has since moderated, while remaining anchored in core semiconductor and electrochemical device classifications with meaningful adjacent activity in organic chemistry and coatings.
Annual filing trend
Annual filings peaked in 2018 and have moderated since, consistent with a maturing technology domain. The 2024 and 2025 data points reflect publication lag and should not be read as a definitive continuation of the decline; the true recent-year totals will be higher once pending publications surface.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H01L (semiconductor devices) dominates by a wide margin, followed by H01M (batteries, cells and fuel cells) and H01G (capacitors), reflecting the core photovoltaic device and electrolyte sub-system focus of most filers. Organic dye chemistry branches such as C09B and C07D are present but comparatively sparse, pointing to under-served areas relative to the device-level work.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Photoelectrode for dye sensitized solar cell, meth…
A photoelectrode for a dye sensitized solar cell, a method of preparing the same, and a dye sensitized solar cell using the photoelectrode. The photoelectrode includes mesoporous titanium dioxide particles with an average particle diameter in a range of about 100 to about 2000 nm and a specific surface area in a range of about 150 to about 300… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solar array resembling natural foliage including m… | 375 |
| 2 | Photoelectric conversion device and photo cell | 367 |
| 3 | Photovoltaic devices fabricated from insulating na… | 288 |
| 4 | Rotational photovoltaic cells, systems and methods | 285 |
| 5 | Photovoltaic devices fabricated from nanostructure… | 278 |
| 6 | Sealant, manufacturing process of glass panel and … | 241 |
| 7 | High efficiency solar panel and system | 222 |
| 8 | Semiconductor Grain and Oxide Layer for Photovolta… | 211 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the competitive structure means for R&D investment
Four structural observations — maturity stage, concentration, collaboration networks, and geographic spread — shape where new entrants and incumbents should focus their next moves in DSSC development.
Field is in a mature phase with annual volume eased from its 2018 peak
The lifecycle evidence characterizes this field as Maturity, with annual filings having plateaued near their peak and a multi-year recent-window growth figure of negative nine percent. The 2018 peak year marked the apex of broad industrial investment in DSSC device patents. For R&D teams, this signals that foundational device architecture is well-covered and differentiation must come from materials innovation, integration (e.g., building-integrated PV), or next-generation sensitizer chemistry rather than core cell design.
Lifecycle: MaturityModerate concentration with a clear leader and competitive mid-tier
Fujikura’s commanding position at the top of the ranking, with Samsung SDI and Sharp as close-but-trailing challengers, defines a moderate concentration structure. The top five filers hold twenty-two percent of the hundred largest filers’ combined total — significant but not exclusionary. New entrants or mid-tier players retain room to differentiate through niche technical routes, particularly in organic dye synthesis, counter-electrode materials, or flexible substrate architectures where the largest players are less active.
Moderate concentrationSamsung SDI–Samsung Electronics and Sony Group–Sony Deutschland are the most active co-filing pairs
The most active co-filing relationship is between Samsung SDI Co Ltd and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, with twenty-three joint filings, reflecting coordinated intra-group R&D. Sony Group Corp and Sony Deutschland GmbH follow with twelve joint filings. Konarka Technologies and Leonhard Kurz-related entities account for multiple collaboration links, suggesting a pattern of industry-to-industry partnerships rather than heavy academic co-filing, with the notable exception of Fujikura and Tokyo University of Science collaborating on five joint filings.
Industry-led co-filingUS and Japan lead filing jurisdictions, with Korea and Europe as material secondary markets
The United States and Japan are the top two jurisdictions by patent record count, followed closely by South Korea and then Europe (EPO). Taiwan and China represent meaningful secondary markets, particularly relevant for manufacturing-oriented IP. The WIPO (PCT) route is active, indicating that leading filers are pursuing broad international protection. Emerging markets such as India and Malaysia show limited coverage, which may represent both lower commercial priority and a potential entry point for regional players.
US–Japan–Korea triangleGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung SDI Co Ltd | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 23 |
| Sony Group Corporation | Sony Deutschland GmbH | 12 |
| Konarka Technologies Inc | Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co KG | 11 |
| Sharp Corporation | Dai-ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co Ltd | 7 |
| Sharp Corporation | Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co Ltd | 6 |
| Konarka Technologies Inc | Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co KG | 6 |
| Fujikura Ltd | Tokyo University of Science | 5 |
| Dongjin Semichem Co Ltd | KOREA UNIV IND & ACADEMIC CALLABORATION FOUND | 5 |
| Konarka Technologies Inc | Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co KG | 4 |
| Dongjin Semichem Co Ltd | Korea University Research and Business Foundation | 3 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Fujikura anchors the field; Samsung SDI and Sharp compete across the same core IPC classes
The top applicants are predominantly large Japanese and Korean industrial conglomerates, each with broad coverage across semiconductor device, electrochemical cell, and capacitor classifications. Momentum indicators highlight a mix of entrenched incumbents and a few players showing signs of renewed activity.
Fujikura Ltd
Fujikura Ltd leads with 483 patent records, roughly sixty percent more than the second-ranked applicant. Its technology emphasis is concentrated in H01L 31 (semiconductor devices, 471 records), H01M 14 (electrochemical cells, 404 records), and H01G 9 (capacitors, 167 records), reflecting full-stack DSSC device coverage. Momentum data is not reported for Fujikura in the recent-window tracking, consistent with an entrenched incumbent maintaining rather than rapidly expanding its portfolio.
Patent records: 483Samsung SDI Co Ltd
Samsung SDI Co Ltd holds 307 patent records and mirrors Fujikura’s IPC emphasis — H01L 31 (257 records), H01M 14 (84 records), and H01G 9 (56 records) — but at roughly half the scale. Its close collaboration with Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (23 joint filings) suggests coordinated group-level strategy. Momentum data for Samsung SDI is not separately reported in the recent-window tracking, indicating stable rather than surging recent activity.
Patent records: 307| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Dongjin Semichem Co Ltd | 3 | ▲ new entrant |
| Sharp Corporation | 1 | ▲ new entrant |
| LG Electronics Inc | 2 | ▼ -94% |
| Dai Nippon Printing Co Ltd | 2 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served branches adjacent to the DSSC core
Several IPC branches appear in the corpus with meaningfully lower share relative to the dominant H01L classification. These represent observed relative sparsity in the patent record; where plausible technical value and a realistic entry path exist, they are noted as branches worth watching.
C09B · Organic dyes and pigments
C09B (organic dyes and pigments) holds three percent of the IPC record count, notably sparse given that sensitizer dye chemistry is the defining differentiator of DSSC technology. Fujifilm Corp and Dongjin Semichem show the strongest presence here (C09B 57 sub-class), but the branch remains comparatively thin relative to device-level filings. For a chemistry-focused entrant or materials company, targeted sensitizer synthesis IP in this branch could establish a defensible position without directly competing in the densely covered H01L device space.
Search this in Eureka →H02S · Photovoltaic and solar power generation (system-level)
H02S (photovoltaic and solar power generation) accounts for three percent of the IPC record count, suggesting that system-level integration — balance-of-system, module interconnection, and building-integrated configurations — is under-represented relative to cell-level device patents. LG Electronics is the most distinctive filer in this branch among the top applicants. As DSSC technology matures and moves toward niche deployment scenarios such as indoor photovoltaics or agrivoltaics, system-level IP in H02S could become a meaningful differentiator for companies targeting end-use integration rather than cell fabrication.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ across core technology routes
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | H01L 31 · Semiconductor devices | H01M 14 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | H01G 9 · Capacitors | H10K 99 · Organic semiconductors (OLED etc.) | H01L 51 · Semiconductor devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fujikura Ltd | Strong · 471 | Strong · 404 | Moderate · 167 | Absent | Emerging · 25 |
| Sharp Corporation | Strong · 211 | Strong · 195 | Moderate · 86 | Emerging · 22 | Absent |
| Konarka Technologies Inc | Strong · 164 | Moderate · 78 | Strong · 108 | Moderate · 64 | Moderate · 36 |
| Fujifilm Corporation | Strong · 187 | Strong · 126 | Emerging · 32 | Moderate · 71 | Emerging · 22 |
| Sony Group Corporation | Strong · 222 | Strong · 158 | Moderate · 46 | Absent | Absent |
| Samsung SDI Co Ltd | Strong · 257 | Moderate · 84 | Moderate · 56 | Emerging · 28 | Absent |
| Dai Nippon Printing Co Ltd | Strong · 175 | Strong · 161 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
Fujikura Ltd leads the applicant ranking with 483 patent records, well ahead of second-ranked Samsung SDI Co Ltd at 307 records. Both companies concentrate their filings in semiconductor device and electrochemical cell classifications.
The field is characterized as Mature. Annual filing volume peaked in 2018 and has eased since, with a recent multi-year growth figure of negative nine percent. The 2024 and 2025 data points are subject to publication lag and should not be taken as definitive evidence of continued decline.
The United States and Japan lead by patent record count, followed closely by South Korea and Europe (EPO). Taiwan and China represent significant secondary markets. The active use of the WIPO PCT route indicates that leading filers seek broad multi-jurisdictional protection.
H01L (semiconductor devices) is by far the most heavily covered IPC class, followed by H01M (batteries, cells and fuel cells) and H01G (capacitors). These three classes reflect the core photovoltaic device stack and electrolyte sub-system that define most DSSC patents.
Relative to the dominant H01L device class, organic dye and pigment chemistry (C09B) and system-level photovoltaic integration (H02S) are notably sparse. Heterocyclic compound chemistry (C07D, relevant to electrolyte ligands) and organic semiconductor adjacencies (H10K) also show lower representation.
The most active co-filing pair is Samsung SDI Co Ltd and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd with twenty-three joint filings, followed by Sony Group Corp and Sony Deutschland GmbH with twelve. Konarka Technologies was involved in multiple collaboration links with Leonhard Kurz-related entities. Fujikura collaborated with Tokyo University of Science on five joint filings.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from PatSnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
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