Perovskite Solar Cell Charge Transport Layer Patent Landscape
Perovskite Solar Cell Charge Transport Layer Patent Landscape in 2026
The perovskite solar cell charge transport layer field is in active growth, with 5,094 patent families on record and filings expanding sharply on a multi-year basis. Trina Solar leads a Chinese-dominated field, but battery makers, utilities, and Korean manufacturers have entered at scale, signaling rapid commercialization pressure.
Trina Solar leads a concentrated but rapidly diversifying field
Trina Solar Co Ltd holds the top position with 206 patent families, followed by Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute at 129 and Contemporary Amperex Technology at 123. The top five filers together account for 19% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers, indicating a moderately concentrated front tier with meaningful activity across many other players.
The gap between the first-ranked applicant and the fifth is roughly 2.7×, suggesting a clear but not insurmountable lead for Trina Solar. Below the top five, a dense mid-tier of Chinese universities and solar manufacturers — including Nankai University, Chint New Energy, and Tongwei Solar — competes actively, limiting any single actor’s structural dominance.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trina Solar Co Ltd | 206 | |
| 2 | Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute | 129 | |
| 3 | Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd | 123 | |
| 4 | Hanwha Solutions Corp | 115 | |
| 5 | UNIV OF ELECTRONICS SCI & TECH OF CHINA | 77 | |
| 6 | Wuxi Utmost Light Technology Co Ltd | 73 | |
| 7 | Contemporary Amperex Technology (Hong Kong) Limited | 66 | |
| 8 | Nankai University | 64 | |
| 9 | Chint New Energy Technology Co Ltd | 61 | |
| 10 | Tongwei Solar Energy (Chengdu) Co Ltd | 56 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Huaneng Renewables Corporation Limited | 56 | |
| 12 | Northwestern Polytechnical University | 54 | |
| 13 | Soochow University | 53 | |
| 14 | Southwest Petroleum University | 51 | |
| 15 | Zhejiang Aiko Solar Energy Technology Co Ltd | 46 | |
| 16 | Korea Electric Power Corporation | 46 | |
| 17 | HUAZHONG UNIV OF SCI & TECH | 45 | |
| 18 | Nanjing Tech University | 44 | |
| 19 | Tianjin Aiko Solar Energy Technology Co Ltd | 43 | |
| 20 | Xidian University | 43 |
The presence of Contemporary Amperex Technology (a leading battery manufacturer) and Hanwha Solutions (a Korean chemical and solar conglomerate) in the top four indicates that the charge transport layer has become a target for players with adjacent manufacturing and materials capabilities, not only dedicated solar firms.
Filing counts for the most recent 18–24 months are understated due to standard patent publication lag; apparent volume in 2025–2026 does not reflect the true level of current activity. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Filings have grown sharply since 2021; organic semiconductor methods dominate the technology mix
The annual filing trend reveals a sustained acceleration from 2017 through 2024, while the technology composition chart shows that H10K (organic semiconductors) accounts for the dominant share of records, with semiconductor device and organic chemistry classes forming a secondary layer.
Annual filing trend
Filings grew from 84 in 2017 to a recorded peak of 1,293 in 2024, a period that saw a 246% increase in recent-window activity. The apparent drop in 2025–2026 reflects publication lag and should not be interpreted as a real decline; the field’s lifecycle stage is confirmed as Growth.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H10K (organic semiconductors) is overwhelmingly the lead class, reflecting the central role of organic hole- and electron-transport materials. H01L (semiconductor devices) is a substantial secondary class. Lower-density branches — including heterocyclic compounds (C07D), organo-metallic compounds (C07F), nanotechnology (B82Y), and condensation polymers (C08G) — represent adjacent technical areas with notably smaller filing footprints relative to the core.
↗ 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.
Method for manufacturing a perovskite solar cell w…
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a perovskite solar cell and a perovskite solar cell manufactured thereby and, more specifically, to a method for manufacturing a perovskite solar cell and a perovskite solar cell manufactured thereby, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (S1) applying a) an oxidative agent, b) ultraviolet… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一种钙钛矿太阳能电池及其制备方法 | 78 |
| 2 | 一种基于掺杂型NiO空穴传输层的钙钛矿太阳能电池及其制备方法 | 63 |
| 3 | Perovskite solar cell | 62 |
| 4 | 一种钙钛矿太阳能电池及其制备方法 | 48 |
| 5 | Process for the production of a solid dye-sensitiz… | 48 |
| 6 | 一种钙钛矿太阳能电池的制备方法 | 45 |
| 7 | 基于Spiro‑OMeTAD/PbS复合空穴传输层的钙钛矿太阳能电池及其制备方法 | 43 |
| 8 | Methods for forming a perovskite solar cell | 41 |
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
The field combines rapid filing growth, a moderately concentrated leader tier, and strong industry-academia collaboration — conditions that reward both fast-follow and differentiated niche strategies.
Active Growth phase with no sign of plateau
The lifecycle is classified as Growth, with annual filings still rising on a multi-year basis and the 2024 peak year not yet showing a genuine easing. The 246% recent-window growth rate indicates the technology is past early exploration but well short of saturation. R&D teams entering now face a crowded but still-open landscape where novel transport material combinations can establish defensible positions.
Lifecycle: GrowthModerate concentration with an active mid-tier
The top five filers hold 19% of the hundred largest filers’ combined output, and no single applicant has established a decisive moat. Trina Solar’s 206-family lead over Contemporary Amperex Technology’s 123 families is real but not prohibitive. The dense mid-tier of universities and manufacturers means that citation leverage and cross-licensing are plausible strategies alongside direct filing programs.
Top-5 share: 19%Huaneng group drives the most active co-filing network
The strongest co-applicant pair is Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute with Huaneng Renewables Corporation, sharing 56 joint filings, followed by Contemporary Amperex Technology with its Shanghai research institute at 36 joint filings. Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute also co-files with Huaneng Qinghai Power Generation (28 filings) and with Tsinghua University (2 filings). Trina Solar collaborates with Nanjing University, while Nankai University co-files with Hebei University of Technology and China Three Gorges Corporation. These clusters reveal that utility-industrial and battery-maker ecosystems are building coordinated IP positions alongside traditional solar players.
Co-filing clusters activeChina overwhelmingly dominates; Western filings are sparse
China accounts for 4,290 patent records, far ahead of South Korea at 248 and WIPO/PCT at 213. US and EPO filings stand at 191 and 116 respectively, suggesting that most innovation is being protected domestically in China with limited international ring-fencing so far. For non-Chinese players, the relatively thin PCT and EPO coverage compared to the volume of underlying innovation could represent both a risk (if Chinese-origin IP globalizes) and an entry opportunity in Western jurisdictions.
China-dominant filing geographyGo 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute | Huaneng Renewables Corporation Limited | 56 |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd | Contemporary Amperex Future Energy Research Institute (Shanghai) | 36 |
| Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute | Huaneng Qinghai Power Generation Co Ltd | 28 |
| University of Electronic Science and Technology of China | JA Solar Technology Co Ltd | 10 |
| Tongwei Solar Energy (Chengdu) Co Ltd | Southwest Petroleum University | 4 |
| Trina Solar Co Ltd | Nanjing University | 3 |
| Nankai University | Hebei University of Technology | 3 |
| Nankai University | China Three Gorges Corporation | 3 |
| Trina Solar Co Ltd | Trina Solar (Changzhou) Technology Co Ltd | 2 |
| Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute | Tsinghua University | 2 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Trina Solar leads on volume; Contemporary Amperex Technology shows the fastest scaled ramp
The top two players differ in origin and trajectory: Trina Solar is a dedicated solar manufacturer building a broad charge-transport portfolio, while Contemporary Amperex Technology has entered from battery technology and is scaling at nearly 10× the pace of its prior three-year base.
Trina Solar Co Ltd
Trina Solar holds 206 patent families, the largest position in this landscape. Its technology focus is concentrated in H10K subclasses covering organic semiconductor device structures and fabrication processes. Momentum is flagged as a new entrant to the recent filing window with 142 recent families, indicating that much of its position has been built rapidly and recently rather than accumulated over many years.
families: 206Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd
Contemporary Amperex Technology ranks third overall with 123 patent families and shows a 9.6× increase versus its prior three-year base — the strongest momentum ratio among scaled players. Its focus mirrors the leading H10K subclasses, reflecting a deliberate move from energy storage into perovskite photovoltaics. Combined with its Hong Kong entity’s 66 families, the CATL group’s consolidated position is substantial and accelerating.
families: 123| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Trina Solar Co Ltd | 142 | ▲ new entrant |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd | 134 | ▲ 9.6× vs prior 3-yr |
| Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute | 75 | ▲ 3.8× vs prior 3-yr |
| Hanwha Solutions Corp | 66 | ▲ 3.5× vs prior 3-yr |
| University of Electronic Science and Technology of China | 33 | ▲ +50% |
| Wuxi Utmost Light Technology Co Ltd | 62 | ▲ new entrant |
| Nankai University | 23 | ▲ +53% |
| Chint New Energy Technology Co Ltd | 58 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served branches in organic chemistry and nanotechnology adjacent to the core
Several IPC classes sit at the boundary of the dominant H10K and H01L core with notably lower filing density relative to their technical relevance to charge transport layer design; these are observations of relative sparsity, and entry feasibility should be validated against specific research programs.
C07D · Heterocyclic compounds
With 237 patent records and a 3% share among the top branches, heterocyclic compound synthesis is an active but comparatively sparse area. Heterocyclic motifs are central to organic hole-transport materials such as spiro-OMeTAD and carbazole-based alternatives. The relatively low filing density — given how foundational these structures are — suggests that molecular design freedom may still exist for novel HTL candidates, particularly for researchers able to combine synthesis expertise with device integration knowledge.
Search this in Eureka →B82Y · Nanotechnology applications
Nanotechnology applications (B82Y) account for 149 patent records and a 2% share, despite nanomaterials such as quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, and metal oxide nanoparticles being actively studied as electron and hole transport layer components. This sparsity relative to device-level filings may reflect that nano-structured transport layers are not yet fully translated into protectable manufacturing processes, creating a potential opening for teams bridging nanomaterial synthesis and scalable deposition.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ across technology sub-routes
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | H10K 30 · Organic semiconductors (OLED etc.) | H10K 71 · Organic semiconductors (OLED etc.) | H10K 85 · Organic semiconductors (OLED etc.) | H01L 51 · Semiconductor devices | H01L 31 · Semiconductor devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trina Solar Co Ltd | Strong · 199 | Strong · 171 | Strong · 114 | Absent | Absent |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd | Strong · 118 | Strong · 60 | Strong · 91 | Absent | Emerging · 21 |
| Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute | Strong · 92 | Strong · 84 | Strong · 58 | Moderate · 33 | Absent |
| Hanwha Solutions Corp | Strong · 97 | Moderate · 38 | Strong · 79 | Absent | Absent |
| Chint New Energy Technology Co Ltd | Strong · 60 | Strong · 50 | Strong · 43 | Absent | Absent |
| Wuxi Utmost Light Technology Co Ltd | Strong · 56 | Strong · 46 | Strong · 29 | Absent | Absent |
| Nankai University | Strong · 40 | Strong · 33 | Strong · 29 | Strong · 24 | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The dataset covers 5,094 patent families globally. Filing activity has grown strongly on a multi-year basis, with a 246% increase in the recent window, and the lifecycle is classified as Growth.
Trina Solar Co Ltd holds the largest position with 206 patent families. Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute ranks second with 129, and Contemporary Amperex Technology ranks third with 123 patent families.
The top five filers account for 19% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers, indicating moderate concentration. A dense mid-tier of Chinese universities and solar manufacturers is active below the top five, limiting single-actor dominance.
China is dominant at 4,290 patent records. South Korea follows at 248, WIPO/PCT at 213, the United States at 191, and the European Patent Office at 116. The large gap between China and all other jurisdictions reflects where innovation is primarily being protected.
H10K (organic semiconductors) is the leading IPC class by a wide margin, followed by H01L (semiconductor devices). Adjacent branches with lower but notable filing density include C07D (heterocyclic compounds), C07F (organo-metallic compounds), and B82Y (nanotechnology applications).
Contemporary Amperex Technology shows the strongest scaled ramp at 9.6× versus its prior three-year base. Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute has grown at 3.8× and Hanwha Solutions at 3.5×. Trina Solar, Wuxi Utmost Light Technology, and Chint New Energy are flagged as new entrants to the recent filing window.
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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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