Lithium-Ion Battery Anode Material Patent Landscape
Lithium-Ion Battery Anode Material Patent Landscape in 2026
The lithium-ion battery anode material field is dominated by Chinese universities and battery manufacturers, who collectively hold the leading positions in a moderately concentrated landscape of 2,799 patent families. Annual filing volume has eased from its 2018 peak, and activity is now shifting toward selective industrial players while research institutions maintain their output.
Chinese academic institutions lead a moderately concentrated field
Shaanxi University of Science and Technology leads
The top five filers account for 15% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers, signaling moderate concentration: no single entity commands a dominant share, and the gap between the leader and the fifth-ranked applicant (South. China University of Technology, 47 patent families) is narrow enough that challengers can realistically close it.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHAANXI UNIV OF SCI & TECH | 59 | |
| 2 | Central South University | 58 | |
| 3 | BTR New Material Group Co., Ltd. | 53 | |
| 4 | Hefei Guoxuan High-Tech Power Energy Co., Ltd. | 48 | |
| 5 | South China University of Technology | 47 | |
| 6 | KUNMING UNIV OF SCI & TECH | 43 | |
| 7 | Tianjin University | 40 | |
| 8 | China Three Gorges University | 38 | |
| 9 | Guilin University of Technology | 38 | |
| 10 | Harbin Institute of Technology | 37 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | South China Normal University | 34 | |
| 12 | Honeycomb Battery Co. | 31 | |
| 13 | Zhejiang University | 31 | |
| 14 | Beijing University of Chemical Technology | 31 | |
| 15 | Zhejiang University of Technology | 30 | |
| 16 | BYD Co., Ltd. | 28 | |
| 17 | UNIV OF SCI & TECH BEIJING | 27 | |
| 18 | Eocell Ltd. | 26 | |
| 19 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | 25 | |
| 20 | Fuzhou University | 25 |
The presence of Hefei Guoxuan High-Tech Power Energy (48 patent families) and BTR New Material Group (53 patent families) among the top five indicates that industrial players are maintaining competitive filing rates alongside academic institutions, suggesting the field has both foundational research and commercial deployment value.
Filing counts for the most recent 18–24 months are subject to publication lag and are likely under-represented; the apparent decline in 2024–2025 data should not be interpreted as a definitive slowdown until more publications are indexed.
Filing volume has eased from a 2018 peak; H01M dominates the technology mix
Two views of the corpus reveal a field past its peak annual output but still technically broad: the annual trend shows a decline from the 2018 high, while the IPC composition confirms that electrochemical cell technology (H01M) anchors the work, with meaningful secondary activity in inorganic chemistry and nanotechnology.
Annual filing trend
Filings rose from 370 in 2017 to a peak of 394 in 2018, then declined steadily through 2023 and 2024. The 2025 and 2026 data points are heavily affected by publication lag and should be treated as provisional; the true recent-year volume is likely higher than the indexed counts currently show.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H01M (batteries, cells and fuel cells) accounts for the largest share of patent records by a wide margin, followed by C01B (non-metallic elements and inorganic compounds) and B82Y (nanotechnology applications). The secondary presence of C01G (compounds of other metals) and B01J (chemical and physical processes) points to active sub-fields in precursor chemistry and synthesis processes.
↗ 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.
Lithium Ion Battery Anode Material, The Method The…
A lithium ion battery anode material, a method thereof and a lithium ion battery. The lithium ion battery anode material includes graphite carbon materials and functionalized graphene. The method of the lithium ion battery anode material includes the following steps: compounding a graphite phase carbon material and functionalized graphene by liquid phase… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
Open this patent in Eureka →| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nano graphene reinforced nanocomposite particles f… | 502 |
| 2 | Nano graphene platelet-based composite anode compo… | 438 |
| 3 | Conductive nanocomposite-based electrodes for lith… | 419 |
| 4 | Graphene-enhanced anode particulates for lithium i… | 417 |
| 5 | Process for producing nano graphene reinforced com… | 399 |
| 6 | Materials for solid state electrolytes and protect… | 398 |
| 7 | Hybrid anode compositions for lithium ion batteries | 268 |
| 8 | Nano graphene platelet-base composite anode compos… | 259 |
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 decisions
Four structural observations — maturity stage, concentration, collaboration patterns, and geographic distribution — frame the strategic risk and opportunity in this space for an R&D team evaluating entry or expansion.
Past-peak field with selective active pockets
The lifecycle stage is classified as Decline, with annual filings easing back from the 2018 peak. A team entering now faces a maturing patent landscape where broad claims are likely already staked, making differentiation through narrower, application-specific innovations (e.g., specific metal compound precursors or nano-structured architectures) more defensible than broad anode chemistry claims. The multi-year corpus of 2,799 patent families still indicates substantial prior art to navigate.
Lifecycle: DeclineModerate concentration with a tight leading cluster
The top five filers hold 15% of the hundred largest filers’ combined output, and the leader-to-fifth gap spans only 12 patent families (59 vs. 47). This tight clustering means no incumbent has an insurmountable head start based on volume alone; a focused filing program in an adjacent sub-class could close the gap. Industrial challengers such as Honeycomb Battery (31 patent families) and BYD (28 patent families) are already within striking distance of the academic leaders.
Moderate concentrationBTR New Material Group is the most active co-filer
BTR New Material Group co-filed 10 patent families with Huizhou Dingyuan New Energy Technology and 9 with Kaifeng Ruifeng New Material, the two most active co-filing pairs in the corpus. Central South University is the most active academic co-filer, collaborating with Hunan Chenyu Fuji New Energy Technology (3 families), Hunan Youneng High-Tech (2 families), and several other Hunan-based industrial partners. These university–industry linkages suggest that licensing or joint-development agreements with these institutions represent a realistic route to accessing proprietary synthesis knowledge.
Industry–academia linksChina-centric filing with limited international protection
China accounts for the largest share of patent records by a substantial margin, with the United States and EPO representing much smaller secondary markets. PCT filings are present but limited. For a company targeting markets outside China, the relatively thin international patent coverage signals both competitive risk (Chinese incumbents may not yet have enforced rights abroad) and opportunity (freedom-to-operate may exist in certain jurisdictions pending further clearance review).
China-dominantGo 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 |
|---|---|---|
| BTR New Material Group Co., Ltd. | Huizhou Dingyuan New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. | 10 |
| BTR New Material Group Co., Ltd. | Kaifeng Ruifeng New Material Co., Ltd. | 9 |
| Central South University | Hunan Chenyu Fuji New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. | 3 |
| Central South University | Hunan Youneng High-Tech Co., Ltd. | 2 |
| Central South University | Changsha Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Co., Ltd. | 1 |
| Central South University | Hunan Xifu Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. | 1 |
| Central South University | Luoyang Zhongsi High-Tech Co., Ltd. | 1 |
| Shaanxi University of Science and Technology | Shaanxi Hantang Senyuan Industrial Development Group Co., Ltd. | 1 |
| Shaanxi University of Science and Technology | Shaanxi Yuneng Group Energy Chemical Research Institute Co., Ltd. | 1 |
| China Three Gorges University | Hubei Ruisai New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. | 1 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Shaanxi University of Science and Technology leads; BTR New Material Group is the top industrial filer
The leading positions are split between research universities and battery material producers. Shaanxi University of Science and Technology tops
Shaanxi University of Science and Technology
Leads the ranking with 59 patent families, concentrated in H01M 4 (electrode materials) and H01M 10 (secondary batteries), with a secondary cluster in B82Y 30 (nanotechnology applications). Momentum data flags this applicant as a new entrant in the recent filing window, suggesting its high rank reflects a recent surge rather than a long-established position — worth monitoring for whether the pace is sustained.
patent families: 59BTR New Material Group
Ranks third overall with 53 patent families and is the top-ranked commercial materials producer. Its focus clusters around H01M 4 and H01M 10, with secondary activity in C01B 32 (non-metallic inorganic compounds, including graphite and silicon-carbon precursors). Momentum data marks BTR as a new entrant in the recent filing window — noteworthy given its commercial scale — and it is also the most active co-filer in the ecosystem, partnering with Huizhou Dingyuan and Kaifeng Ruifeng.
patent families: 53| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Central South University | 9 | ▼ -31% |
| Shaanxi University of Science and Technology | 7 | ▲ new entrant |
| China Three Gorges University | 11 | ▼ -21% |
| BTR New Material Group Co., Ltd. | 14 | ▲ new entrant |
| Hefei Guoxuan High-Tech Power Energy Co., Ltd. | 9 | ▼ -40% |
| South China University of Technology | 8 | ▼ -33% |
| Kunming University of Science and Technology | 12 | ▲ new entrant |
| South China Normal University | 1 | ▼ -90% |
Under-served branches adjacent to the dominant anode chemistry focus
Several IPC classes appear at low relative share within this corpus despite having plausible technical relevance to anode material development; these represent areas where the patent record is sparse relative to the core H01M activity and could warrant closer examination by R&D teams.
B22F · Powder metallurgy
Powder metallurgy (B22F) appears at low share within the corpus. Anode materials such as silicon, tin, and transition-metal alloys are often produced via powder processing routes, and advances in particle morphology control directly affect electrochemical performance. The sparse coverage in this branch — relative to the dominant H01M activity — suggests that process-side innovations targeting powder production for anode applications may have room for differentiated filings. Entry would likely require collaboration with materials processing specialists or licensing from powder metallurgy incumbents outside the battery space.
Search this in Eureka →C08G · Condensation polymers
Condensation polymers (C08G) appear at low share in the corpus, yet polymer binders and carbon-precursor resins are critical to anode electrode fabrication and increasingly to solid-electrolyte interface engineering. The limited filing density here — compared to the extensive H01M and C01B activity — indicates that polymer chemistry tailored specifically for anode binder or carbon-coating applications is an area where a materials chemistry team could establish a defensible position without immediately confronting the dense prior art in the core electrochemical classes.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ by technology sub-class emphasis
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | H01M 4 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | H01M 10 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | B82Y 30 · Nanotechnology applications | C01B 32 · Non-metallic elements & inorganic compounds | B82Y 40 · Nanotechnology applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaanxi University of Science and Technology | Strong · 75 | Strong · 60 | Emerging · 14 | Absent | Emerging · 9 |
| Central South University | Strong · 70 | Strong · 43 | Emerging · 9 | Emerging · 11 | Emerging · 6 |
| China Three Gorges University | Strong · 60 | Strong · 40 | Emerging · 7 | Emerging · 7 | Emerging · 6 |
| Hefei Guoxuan High-Tech Power Energy Co., Ltd. | Strong · 48 | Strong · 38 | Emerging · 8 | Absent | Emerging · 9 |
| South China Normal University | Strong · 44 | Strong · 31 | Moderate · 13 | Absent | Moderate · 10 |
| Kunming University of Science and Technology | Strong · 43 | Strong · 35 | Moderate · 10 | Absent | Moderate · 10 |
| BTR New Material Group Co., Ltd. | Strong · 55 | Strong · 31 | Absent | Emerging · 9 | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus covers 2,799 patent families. This is the base figure from which applicant rankings, technology composition, and trend analysis are derived.
Shaanxi University of Science and Technology leads with 59 patent families, followed by Central South University (58) and BTR New Material Group (53). The top five filers together account for 15% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers.
Annual filing volume peaked in 2018 at 394 and has eased since. The lifecycle stage is classified as Decline based on this trend. Note that the most recent 18–24 months of data are subject to publication lag and are likely under-counted, so the true current rate may be modestly higher than indexed figures suggest.
China dominates by a wide margin, with the United States and EPO representing secondary markets. PCT filings are present but limited. This geographic skew means international freedom-to-operate outside China may be more available than the overall corpus size implies, though jurisdiction-specific clearance searches are needed.
The most-cited works relate to nano graphene-based composite anode compositions and graphene-enhanced anode particulates for lithium-ion batteries, with citation counts reaching 502, 438, 419, and 417 respectively. These patents center on nanostructured carbon anode architectures and represent foundational prior art any new entrant must account for.
BTR New Material Group is the most active co-filer, with 10 joint patent families with Huizhou Dingyuan New Energy Technology and 9 with Kaifeng Ruifeng New Material. Central South University is the most active academic co-filer, collaborating with Hunan Chenyu Fuji New Energy Technology (3 families) and several other industrial partners.
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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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