Magnesium-Ion Battery Patent Landscape 2026
Magnesium-Ion Battery Patent Landscape in 2026
The magnesium-ion battery patent field is highly concentrated, with the CATL corporate family commanding a dominant position among the hundred largest filers. The field is still expanding on a multi-year basis, though annual volume has eased from its 2022 peak and the most recent years remain understated by publication lag.
CATL entities lead a heavily consolidated field
Contemporary Amperex Technology (Hong Kong) Limited ranks first among all applicants, followed by its affiliate Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd in second place and Toyota Motor Corporation in third — the top three together account for a commanding share of activity among the leading filers.
The top five filers’ combined share of the hundred largest filers stands at 65%, signaling a field where a single corporate family and one major automotive incumbent have built structural barriers. The gap between the first-ranked entity and the rest of the ranking is unusually wide, indicating a two-tier market: one dominant cluster and a long tail of smaller, specialized players.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Contemporary Amperex Technology (Hong Kong) Limited | 2,141 | |
| 2 | Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. | 741 | |
| 3 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 345 | |
| 4 | Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | 157 | |
| 5 | Jiangsu Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited | 119 | |
| 6 | Hydro-Québec | 76 | |
| 7 | Sionic Energy, Inc. | 75 | |
| 8 | Pellion Technologies, Inc. | 66 | |
| 9 | NOHMS Technologies, Inc. | 62 | |
| 10 | Ningde Amperex Technology Limited | 59 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | American Lithium Energy Corporation | 57 | |
| 12 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 57 | |
| 13 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | 56 | |
| 14 | LG Energy Solution, Ltd. | 49 | |
| 15 | GRST Singapore Pte. Ltd. | 47 | |
| 16 | Honeycomb Battery Company | 45 | |
| 17 | FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation | 44 | |
| 18 | UChicago Argonne LLC | 39 | |
| 19 | Chongqing University | 36 | |
| 20 | Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | 33 |
The CATL family’s scale suggests deep vertical integration of magnesium-ion research within its broader battery IP strategy, while Toyota’s third-place position reflects sustained automotive-grade interest. Smaller entrants such as Hydro-Québec, Sionic Energy, and Pellion Technologies occupy niche positions in electrolyte and electrode chemistry, preserving some competitive openness in those sub-domains.
The most recent 18–24 months of data are under-counted due to patent publication lag; apparent softening in 2024–2026 filing figures should not be interpreted as reduced activity. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Multi-year growth with a 2022 volume peak and a battery-cell core
Two charts together reveal a field that scaled rapidly from 2017 to 2022 and whose technology mix remains anchored in battery cell chemistry, with smaller adjacent branches representing potential diversification vectors.
Annual filing trend
Filings grew from 170 in 2017 to a peak of 934 in 2022, representing a multi-year expansion confirmed by the 62% recent-window growth figure. The subsequent easing to 883 in 2023 and lower counts in 2024–2026 reflects both natural moderation from a high base and known publication lag; no genuine decline should be inferred from the most recent two years.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H01M (Batteries, cells and fuel cells) dominates the branch mix by a wide margin, confirming that core electrochemical cell design is the field’s primary focus. Adjacent branches — including H01G (Capacitors), C01G (Compounds of other metals), B60L (Electric vehicle propulsion), and C01B (Non-metallic elements and inorganic compounds) — each account for 3% or less of records, pointing to relatively sparse coverage in hybrid energy storage, precursor chemistry, and automotive integration.
↗ 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.
Active material for rechargeable battery
A magnesium battery includes a first electrode including an active material and a second electrode. An electrolyte is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte includes a magnesium compound. The active material includes an inter-metallic compound of magnesium and antimony. The active material also includes antimony or an… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battery thermal management system and method | 149 |
| 2 | Non-aqueous electrolytes for electrochemical cells | 149 |
| 3 | Chemical-Free Production of Graphene-Encapsulated … | 148 |
| 4 | Stable electrolyte counteranions for electrochemic… | 130 |
| 5 | Battery electrode or separator surface protective … | 126 |
| 6 | Rechargeable magnesium-ion cell having a high-capa… | 115 |
| 7 | Composite, method of preparing the composite, elec… | 107 |
| 8 | Three-dimensional porous-structured current collet… | 105 |
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 patent structure means for R&D investment decisions
The combination of a concentrated applicant base, a clear lifecycle stage, active cross-sector co-filing, and broad jurisdictional coverage shapes the strategic options available to new and existing participants.
Growth stage, easing from a 2022 peak
The field carries a Growth lifecycle designation: the recent three-year filing window sits well above the prior three-year window, confirming net expansion. However, annual volume has eased from its 2022 peak of 934 filings, suggesting the phase of explosive ramp is transitioning toward more selective, higher-quality filing strategies. Entrants should expect established players to deepen claim scope rather than broaden volume.
Lifecycle · GrowthOne corporate family holds structural dominance
The top five filers account for 65% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total, and the CATL family alone spans three separately ranked entities (Contemporary Amperex Technology (Hong Kong) Limited at rank 1, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd at rank 2, and Jiangsu Contemporary Amperex Tech Ltd at rank 5). This concentration means that freedom-to-operate analysis must account for a broad, interconnected portfolio rather than discrete competitors. The second tier — Toyota, Murata, Hydro-Québec, Sionic Energy, Pellion Technologies — offers more targeted IP exposure.
Concentration · HighMurata–Hydro-Québec leads; Toyota co-files with universities
The most active co-filing pair is Murata Manufacturing and Hydro-Québec with 37 joint filings, reflecting a materials-chemistry partnership. CATL Co Ltd co-files frequently with its affiliate Jiangsu Contemporary Amperex Tech Ltd (18 filings) and Shenzhen affiliate (12 filings), indicating intra-group IP coordination. Toyota co-files with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (12 filings), the National Institute for Materials Science (10 filings), and its North American manufacturing arm (4 filings), signaling an open-innovation approach to advanced materials and cell design. NOHMS Technologies and Sionic Energy share 6 joint filings, an unusual startup-to-startup collaboration in electrolyte chemistry.
Collaboration · ActiveUS and EPO lead; China and Japan are secondary filing destinations
The United States and EPO (Europe) are the two leading jurisdictions at the patent-record level, followed by China and Germany. WIPO PCT filings indicate active international prosecution strategies. Japan, South Korea, India, Canada, and Australia form a secondary ring of coverage. The relative under-filing in China — given that leading applicants are Chinese entities — may reflect strategic choices to prioritize Western markets or to rely on domestic utility-model routes not captured here.
Geography · US/EPO-ledGo 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Hydro-Québec | 37 |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. | Jiangsu Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited | 18 |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. | Shenzhen CATL Future Energy Technology Co., Ltd. | 12 |
| Toyota Motor Corporation | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | 12 |
| Toyota Motor Corporation | National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) | 10 |
| NOHMS Technologies, Inc. | Sionic Energy, Inc. | 6 |
| Hydro-Québec | Board of Regents, The University of Texas System | 6 |
| Toyota Motor Corporation | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. | 4 |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. | CATL Future Energy (Shanghai) Research Institute Co., Ltd. | 3 |
| Toyota Motor Corporation | Nagoya Institute of Technology | 3 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
CATL affiliates accelerate; Toyota retracts but retains deep cell expertise
The two dominant positions belong to CATL-family entities, with Contemporary Amperex Technology (Hong Kong) Limited holding a decisive lead. Toyota Motor Corporation remains the strongest non-CATL incumbent but has significantly reduced recent filing pace.
Contemporary Amperex Technology (Hong Kong) Limited
Ranked first with 2,141 patent families, this entity concentrates its portfolio overwhelmingly in H01M 10 (battery cells and systems), H01M 50 (battery components), and H01M 4 (electrodes). Its parent affiliate Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (rank 2, 741 patent families) recorded a momentum of +128% in the most recent three-year window, and the Hong Kong entity itself achieved 4.1× versus its prior three-year period — both trajectories confirm aggressive and sustained portfolio expansion rather than plateau.
families: 2,141Toyota Motor Corporation
Ranked third with 345 patent families, Toyota focuses on H01M 10 (battery cells), H01M 4 (electrodes), and H01M 50 (components), closely mirroring the CATL technology emphasis but at a fraction of the volume. Its recent three-year momentum trend is –76%, indicating a sharp reduction in new filings relative to the prior period — a retrenchment that may reflect portfolio maturation or a strategic pivot toward solid-state or hydrogen technologies. Co-filing partnerships with Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the National Institute for Materials Science suggest continued reliance on external academic capability for frontier research.
families: 345| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. | 1,289 | ▲ +128% |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology (Hong Kong) Limited | 520 | ▲ 4.1× vs prior 3-yr |
| Toyota Motor Corporation | 21 | ▼ -76% |
| Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. | 1 | ▼ -93% |
| NOHMS Technologies, Inc. | 41 | ▼ -9% |
| Jiangsu Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited | 45 | ▼ -37% |
| Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | 24 | ▼ -57% |
| Hydro-Québec | 23 | ▼ -45% |
Under-served branches adjacent to the battery-cell core
Several IPC branches appear at low relative share despite plausible technical and commercial linkage to magnesium-ion battery systems; these represent areas where the existing patent corpus is thin relative to potential application scope.
H01G · Capacitors and hybrid energy storage
With only 3% share of records relative to the dominant H01M branch, capacitor-related filings are sparse despite the known relevance of hybrid supercapacitor-battery architectures for magnesium-ion systems. The technical entry path involves pairing Mg-ion intercalation cathodes with capacitive anodes to improve power density — a route that NOHMS Technologies has partially explored (40 filings in H01G 11) but that remains open. New entrants with expertise in double-layer or pseudocapacitive materials could establish differentiated positions here.
Search this in Eureka →B60L · Electric vehicle propulsion integration
Only 2% of records fall under B60L (electric vehicle propulsion), indicating that vehicle-level integration of magnesium-ion chemistry — including battery management, charging interfaces, and drivetrain coupling — is substantially under-patented relative to cell-chemistry work. Given that magnesium’s abundance and theoretical energy density make it attractive for EV applications, the absence of automotive-integration filings represents an observable gap. Players with EV systems expertise could file into this branch as cell chemistries approach commercialization readiness.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ across technology routes
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | H01M 10 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | H01M 4 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | H01M 50 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | H01M 6 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | H01G 11 · Capacitors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. | Strong · 1,761 | Moderate · 618 | Strong · 1,028 | Emerging · 18 | Absent |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology (Hong Kong) Limited | Strong · 694 | Moderate · 227 | Strong · 389 | Emerging · 8 | Absent |
| Toyota Motor Corporation | Strong · 164 | Strong · 121 | Emerging · 16 | Absent | Absent |
| Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. | Strong · 134 | Strong · 118 | Absent | Emerging · 7 | Absent |
| NOHMS Technologies, Inc. | Strong · 110 | Strong · 69 | Emerging · 19 | Emerging · 9 | Moderate · 40 |
| Jiangsu Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited | Strong · 111 | Absent | Strong · 79 | Emerging · 7 | Absent |
| Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Strong · 87 | Strong · 67 | Moderate · 21 | Absent | Moderate · 20 |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus analyzed contains 4,854 patent families in scope globally, covering activity across all major filing jurisdictions.
Contemporary Amperex Technology (Hong Kong) Limited ranks first with 2,141 patent families, a total that is substantially larger than any other single applicant in the ranking.
Yes, on a multi-year basis: the field carries a Growth lifecycle designation, with recent three-year filings sitting well above the prior three-year window, reflecting 62% growth. Annual volume peaked in 2022 at 934 filings and has eased since, though the most recent years (2024–2026) are further understated by publication lag and should not be read as a decline.
At the patent-record level, the United States and EPO (Europe) are the two leading filing destinations, followed by China, Germany, and WIPO PCT. Japan, South Korea, India, and Canada form a secondary tier of coverage.
The most-cited works — each receiving over 100 forward citations — cover battery thermal management systems and methods, non-aqueous electrolytes for electrochemical cells, graphene-encapsulated composite production, stable electrolyte counteranions, electrode or separator surface protective layers, and rechargeable magnesium-ion cells with high-capacity cathodes. These represent the foundational technical reference points for the field.
The most active co-filing pair is Murata Manufacturing and Hydro-Québec with 37 joint filings. CATL Co Ltd co-files with its Jiangsu affiliate (18 filings) and Shenzhen affiliate (12 filings). Toyota co-files with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (12 filings) and the National Institute for Materials Science (10 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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