Perovskite Large-Area / R2R Patent Landscape 2026
The perovskite large-area and roll-to-roll (R2R) coating patent field is in a Growth stage, with filing activity on a multi-year basis expanding dramatically (recent three-year window up 342% over the prior three-year window), though annual volume has eased from its 2023 peak. The field remains moderately fragmented, with universities and specialist commercialization ventures sharing leadership alongside a handful of industrial solar manufacturers.
Alliance for Energy Innovation leads a fragmented, academically-driven field
Alliance for Energy Innovation LLC holds the top position with 9 patent records, followed closely by First Solar Inc (8) and Saule SA (7), with several university groups occupying the next tier at 6 patent records each — City University of Hong Kong, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Imperial College Innovations Ltd, and William Marsh Rice University.
The top five filers account for 20% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers, signalling a moderately fragmented field. No single entity exerts dominant control, and the gap between the leader (9 patent records) and the fifth-ranked applicants (6 patent records) is narrow, reinforcing the absence of a clear incumbent lock-in.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alliance for Energy Innovation LLC | 9 | |
| 2 | First Solar Inc | 8 | |
| 3 | Saule SA | 7 | |
| 4 | City University of Hong Kong | 6 | |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 6 | |
| 6 | Imperial College Innovations Ltd | 6 | |
| 7 | William Marsh Rice University | 6 | |
| 8 | Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona | 6 | |
| 9 | Energy Materials Corp | 5 | |
| 10 | Jingao Solar Co Ltd | 5 |
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Xian TJ-Solar New Energy Co Ltd | 5 | |
| 12 | Shangrao Jinko Solar Technology Development Co Ltd | 5 | |
| 13 | Shanghai Entropy Dawn Technology Co Ltd | 4 | |
| 14 | Swansea University | 4 | |
| 15 | Hanwha Solutions Corp | 3 | |
| 16 | REC Solar Pte Ltd | 3 | |
| 17 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 3 | |
| 18 | Contemporary Amperex Future Energy Research Institute (Shanghai) | 3 | |
| 19 | Hangzhou Microquanta Semiconductor Co Ltd | 3 | |
| 20 | CNNP Photoelectric Technology (Shanghai) Co Ltd | 3 |
The presence of multiple well-funded university technology transfer offices — alongside commercial players such as First Solar and Saule SA — indicates that core IP is still being established through public-private knowledge transfer rather than purely proprietary R&D pipelines. Industrial entrants willing to engage with academic licensing or joint development retain viable routes to competitive positions.
Filing counts for 2024–2026 are systematically understated due to publication lag; the apparent softening from the 2023 peak should not be read as declining interest. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Filings surged from 2021 onward; organic semiconductor IP dominates the technology mix
Two charts together tell a story of rapid field formation anchored in device-layer IP: the annual trend shows a sharp multi-year ramp, while the technology composition reveals that perovskite large-area work is overwhelmingly classified under organic semiconductor device classes rather than conventional photovoltaic classes.
Annual filing trend
Activity was minimal through 2019, accelerated from 2020, and reached a recorded peak in 2023 at 35 filings, before apparent moderation in 2024–2025. Because patent applications typically publish 12–18 months after filing, the 2024 and 2025 figures materially understate true activity; the 2026 figure (4 records) reflects only the earliest publications of that year’s filings.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H10K (organic semiconductors, covering perovskite device structures) accounts for the large majority of records, reflecting that large-area perovskite cells are primarily classified by their optoelectronic device architecture. H01L (semiconductor devices) forms the second cluster. Adjacent classes — H01G (capacitors), H10F (photovoltaic and light-sensitive devices), C09D (coatings and inks), and C07F (organometallic compounds) — each hold single-digit counts, pointing to under-served segments in encapsulation chemistry, flexible substrate engineering, and precursor ink formulation.
↗ 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.
High performance perovskite solar cells, module de…
High-performance perovskite solar cell (PSC) devices, arrays thereof, and modules manufactured on flexible and stretchable substrates using roll-to-roll high throughput manufacturing techniques. The flexible cells can be cut into strips and are connected via flexible and/or stretchable interconnects. The interconnect can be a layer deposited on a wavy… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tandem solar cell, tandem solar cell module compri… | 55 |
| 2 | 一种耐弯折钙钛矿太阳能电池及制备方法 | 31 |
| 3 | Tandem solar cell and method of manufacturing the … | 31 |
| 4 | Perovskite silicon tandem solar cell and manufactu… | 15 |
| 5 | Planar mixed-metal perovskite for optoelectronic a… | 10 |
| 6 | Perovskite/silicon tandem photovoltaic device | 9 |
| 7 | Method for preparing solar cell fulfilling a low m… | 9 |
| 8 | Perovskite solar cell and method for fabricating t… | 7 |
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, concentration, collaboration patterns, and geographic footprint — together define the risk and opportunity profile for new entrants and incumbents alike.
Growth stage with easing annual pace from 2023 peak
The field is classified as Growth: the recent three-year filing window sits 342% above the prior three-year window, confirming sustained multi-year expansion. Annual volume peaked in 2023 and has since eased, though publication lag means recent years are undercounted. The window for early IP positioning in scalable deposition processes is narrowing but not closed.
Growth stageFragmented top tier — no single dominant incumbent
The top five filers hold 20% of the output of the hundred largest filers, with the leader (Alliance for Energy Innovation LLC, 9 patent records) only marginally ahead of the next four. This shallow gradient means that a focused two- to three-year filing program could realistically enter the top tier. The risk of a blocking patent thicket from a single entity is correspondingly low at this stage.
Low concentrationUniversity–industry co-filing defines the ecosystem
The most active co-filing pair is First Solar Inc and Alliance for Energy Innovation LLC (7 joint records), followed by City University of Hong Kong with Imperial College Innovations Ltd (6 joint records), and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with the Arizona Board of Regents (6 joint records). This pattern indicates that consortium and sponsored-research structures are the primary IP generation mechanism, making academic partnership a strategic lever for new entrants.
Academic-led ecosystemEurope and North America lead filings; India is a notable secondary market
Europe (EPO) and the United States each attract the largest filing volumes, with China third and WIPO (PCT) fourth — reflecting global commercial intent by leading applicants. India ranks fifth, an unusual position for an early-stage technology that suggests active interest from domestic research groups and policy-driven solar manufacturing ambitions. South Korea, Poland, and Taiwan round out secondary jurisdictions.
EPO / US 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 |
|---|---|---|
| First Solar Inc | Sustainable Energy Alliance LLC | 7 |
| City University of Hong Kong | Imperial College Innovations Ltd | 6 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona | 6 |
| First Solar Inc | Alliance for Energy Innovation LLC | 2 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
First Solar and Alliance for Energy Innovation lead on volume; university groups lead in device-layer IP
Leadership is split between commercial entities focused on scalable device architecture and university technology transfer offices generating foundational process and materials IP, with all top filers recorded as new entrants reflecting the field’s recent formation.
Alliance for Energy Innovation LLC
The top-ranked applicant with 9 patent records, Alliance for Energy Innovation LLC concentrates its filings in H10K30 and H10K71 — perovskite device stack and deposition process classes — and has co-filed extensively with First Solar Inc (7 joint records). Its trajectory is recorded as a new entrant, consistent with the field’s recent emergence. The collaboration with First Solar suggests a commercially oriented translational pipeline rather than purely academic output.
patent records: 9First Solar Inc
First Solar Inc holds 8 patent records and shares Alliance for Energy Innovation LLC’s focus on H10K30, H10K85, and H10K71 — device architecture, materials, and deposition processes for organic-semiconductor perovskite structures. Also a new entrant by momentum classification, First Solar’s engagement signals that an established thin-film manufacturer is actively building a perovskite large-area IP position, likely in anticipation of technology transfer to production lines.
patent records: 8| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| First Solar Inc | 8 | ▲ new entrant |
| Sustainable Energy Alliance LLC | 7 | ▲ new entrant |
| Saule SA | 7 | ▲ new entrant |
| City University of Hong Kong | 6 | ▲ new entrant |
| Imperial College Innovations Ltd | 6 | ▲ new entrant |
| William Marsh Rice University | 5 | ▲ new entrant |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 1 | ▲ new entrant |
| Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona | 1 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served branches: encapsulation chemistry, flexible device substrates, and precursor inks
Several IPC branches adjacent to the dominant H10K device-structure cluster hold very low patent record counts relative to the overall corpus, representing areas where filing density is sparse; some also have plausible technical relevance to commercial R2R perovskite manufacturing.
C09D · Coatings, paints & inks — precursor and encapsulant ink formulation
C09D holds only 6 patent records (3% share within the corpus), despite ink formulation being a critical process variable in blade-coating and slot-die R2R deposition. Sparse filing here suggests that proprietary ink chemistry — solvent systems, additive packages, and viscosity control for high-throughput perovskite deposition — is either trade-secret protected or simply under-patented. An entrant with optimized ink formulations for ambient-condition R2R processing could establish a defensible position in this adjacent branch. Entry path: process patents on ink rheology and crystallization additives for perovskite precursor solutions.
Search this in Eureka →H10F · Photovoltaic & light-sensitive devices — large-area module integration
H10F holds only 7 patent records (3% share), even though photovoltaic module integration — scribing, interconnect formation, and encapsulation at module scale — is a distinct engineering problem from device-layer design. The top-cited patents in this corpus are dominated by tandem cell architectures, suggesting that module-level R2R integration IP lags behind cell-level innovation. Entrants with expertise in laser scribing, monolithic interconnection, or flexible module lamination for perovskite panels may find this branch comparatively open. Entry path: patents on R2R-compatible P1/P2/P3 scribing sequences and barrier film integration for flexible perovskite modules.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ across technology routes
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | H10K 30 · Organic semiconductors (OLED etc.) | H10K 85 · Organic semiconductors (OLED etc.) | H10K 71 · Organic semiconductors (OLED etc.) | H01L 31 · Semiconductor devices | H10K 99 · Organic semiconductors (OLED etc.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Solar Inc | Strong · 9 | Strong · 5 | Moderate · 4 | Absent | Absent |
| Sustainable Energy Alliance LLC | Strong · 7 | Moderate · 3 | Moderate · 3 | Absent | Absent |
| Imperial College Innovations Ltd | Strong · 6 | Strong · 6 | Absent | Absent | Emerging · 1 |
| City University of Hong Kong | Strong · 6 | Strong · 6 | Absent | Absent | Emerging · 1 |
| William Marsh Rice University | Strong · 6 | Strong · 6 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| LG Electronics Inc | Absent | Absent | Absent | Strong · 10 | Emerging · 2 |
| Energy Materials Corp | Strong · 5 | Strong · 3 | Moderate · 2 | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus used for this analysis contains 142 patent families. Filing activity has expanded sharply on a multi-year basis, with the recent three-year window 342% above the prior three-year window.
Alliance for Energy Innovation LLC leads with 9 patent records, followed by First Solar Inc (8) and Saule SA (7). City University of Hong Kong, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Imperial College Innovations Ltd, and William Marsh Rice University each hold 6 patent records.
No. The top five filers account for 20% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers, which is a moderate concentration level. The narrow gap between the leader (9 patent records) and the fifth-ranked group (6 patent records) means no single entity holds a blocking position at this stage.
Europe (EPO) and the United States attract the highest filing volumes, with China third and WIPO (PCT) fourth. India ranks fifth, which is notable for an early-stage deep-tech field and suggests active domestic R&D engagement.
H10K (organic semiconductor device structures) dominates with 124 patent records. Adjacent classes with very low coverage include C09D (coatings and inks, 6 records), H10F (photovoltaic module integration, 7 records), H01G (9 records), and C07F (organometallic precursor compounds, 5 records) — all potentially relevant to scalable R2R manufacturing but currently sparse.
No. The reduction in recorded filings for 2024 and 2025 relative to the 2023 peak of 35 records is consistent with normal patent publication lag, under which applications filed in recent years have not yet been published. The multi-year growth rate of 342% confirms the field is still in a Growth stage on a structural basis.
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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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