Perovskite Solar Cell Passivation Layer Patent Landscape
Perovskite Solar Cell Passivation Layer Patent Landscape in 2026
The perovskite solar cell passivation layer field is in a clear growth phase, with filings expanding sharply on a multi-year basis and Chinese manufacturers and energy state-owned enterprises dominating the top applicant tier. Trina Solar holds the leading position, and the field remains highly concentrated in China both by filer origin and by filing jurisdiction.
Trina Solar leads a concentrated field with a large Chinese majority
Trina Solar Co Ltd ranks first with 172 patent families, ahead of Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute at 84 and Wuxi Utmost Light Tech at 71. The top five filers — Trina Solar, Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute, Wuxi Utmost Light Tech, Hanwha Solutions, and Contemporary Amperex Technology — together account for 20% of the hundred largest filers’ combined output, indicating meaningful concentration at the top while leaving significant room for challengers.
The gap between the leader (172 patent families) and the fifth-ranked applicants (70 patent families each) is substantial, signaling a two-tier structure: a small group of aggressive builders and a broader mid-tier that includes both industrial players and universities.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trina Solar Co Ltd | 172 | |
| 2 | Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute | 84 | |
| 3 | Wuxi Utmost Light Tech Co Ltd | 71 | |
| 4 | Hanwha Solutions Corp | 70 | |
| 5 | Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd | 70 | |
| 6 | Xian TJ-Solar New Energy Co Ltd | 54 | |
| 7 | Nankai University | 51 | |
| 8 | Chint New Energy Technology Co Ltd | 50 | |
| 9 | Tongwei Solar Energy (Chengdu) Co Ltd | 45 | |
| 10 | Northwestern Polytechnical University | 45 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Soochow University | 37 | |
| 12 | Contemporary Amperex Technology (Hong Kong) Limited | 37 | |
| 13 | Korea Electric Power Corporation | 36 | |
| 14 | UNIV OF ELECTRONICS SCI & TECH OF CHINA | 31 | |
| 15 | Renshuo Photovoltaics (Suzhou) Co Ltd | 31 | |
| 16 | Jilin University | 28 | |
| 17 | Zhejiang Aiko Solar Energy Technology Co Ltd | 28 | |
| 18 | Shenzhen Phenosolar Technology Co Ltd | 28 | |
| 19 | China Three Gorges Corporation | 27 | |
| 20 | Shaanxi Normal University | 27 |
Trina Solar’s position reflects a deliberate R&D push by a vertically integrated module manufacturer into cell-level passivation science, a pattern mirrored by battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology entering the solar space — both suggesting cross-industry technology transfer as a competitive dynamic.
The most recent 18–24 months of data are subject to publication lag and will undercount true activity; treat 2025–2026 figures as partial. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Filings surged from 2022 onward and technology is anchored in organic semiconductor classes
The annual filing trend and technology composition together show a field that accelerated rapidly after 2021 and is anchored overwhelmingly in organic semiconductor device classifications, with a long tail of adjacent chemistry and materials branches.
Annual filing trend
Filings were modest through 2021 (at most 81 in a single year), then jumped to 276 in 2022, 707 in 2023, and peaked at 1,098 in 2024. The 2025 figure of 1,043 and the 2026 partial count of 97 reflect publication lag rather than a true decline; the multi-year trajectory remains strongly upward. This acceleration from 2022 onward coincides with intensified industrialization efforts by Chinese solar manufacturers.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H10K (organic semiconductors) dominates with 3,209 records, far exceeding every other branch. H01L (semiconductor devices) is the distant second at 488 records. Beyond these two, a cluster of organic and inorganic chemistry branches — including C07F (organo-metallic compounds), C07D (heterocyclic compounds), and B82Y (nanotechnology) — each contribute modestly, indicating that passivation chemistry innovation spans multiple adjacent disciplines but is not yet deeply patented outside the core device class.
↗ 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.
Perovskite solar cell, preparation method therefor…
A perovskite solar cell, a preparation method therefor and a power consuming device are provided. In some embodiments, the perovskite solar cell of the present application has, in order, a back electrode, a hole transport layer, an interface passivation layer, a perovskite layer, an interface passivation layer, an electron transport layer, and conductive… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tandem solar cell, tandem solar cell module compri… | 55 |
| 2 | 一种平面异质结钙钛矿太阳能电池及其制备方法 | 54 |
| 3 | Perovskite solar cell and preparing method of the … | 53 |
| 4 | Perovskite-based solar cell | 51 |
| 5 | Tandem solar cell and method for manufacturing the… | 47 |
| 6 | 基于咔唑衍生物的自组装单分子层空穴传输材料及其合成方法和应用 | 36 |
| 7 | 一种高填充因子的钙钛矿太阳能电池及其制备方法 | 35 |
| 8 | 非掺杂晶硅异质结钙钛矿叠层太阳电池结构及制备方法 | 31 |
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’s growth stage, geographic concentration, and collaboration patterns each carry distinct implications for teams deciding where to build, partner, or differentiate.
Active growth phase — annual filings still rising
The lifecycle evidence classifies this field as Growth, with annual filings still rising and recent years understated by publication lag. Entry barriers are not yet prohibitive, but the steep 2022–2024 ramp means the window for low-competition positioning is narrowing. Teams should prioritize filing velocity alongside technical differentiation.
Growth stageTwo-tier structure with an outsized leader
The top five filers hold 20% of the hundred largest filers’ combined output, with Trina Solar at 172 patent families roughly double the second-ranked Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute at 84. The mid-tier — including multiple Chinese universities and energy corporations — is active but fragmented, suggesting that a focused entrant could establish a credible position in a specific passivation sub-route without displacing the leaders broadly.
Concentrated top tierHuaneng ecosystem is the most active co-filing network
The strongest co-filing linkage is within the Huaneng group: Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute co-filed with Huaneng Qinghai Power Generation (26 joint families) and with Huaneng Renewables (22 joint families), indicating coordinated internal R&D across operating entities. Contemporary Amperex Technology and its Shanghai research institute co-filed on 21 families. University–industry links include Trina Solar with Nanjing University (2 families) and Tongwei Solar with Southwest Petroleum University (3 families), pointing to early-stage academic sourcing of passivation chemistry.
Intra-group dominantChina-centric filing with thin international protection
China accounts for the large majority of filing records, with South Korea, WIPO PCT, the United States, and Europe (EPO) each representing comparatively small shares. This geographic skew means most current patents offer limited protection outside China, creating both a freedom-to-operate opportunity for non-Chinese players in Western markets and a risk that Chinese-developed technology may be rapidly deployed internationally before equivalent foreign protection is secured.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute | Huaneng Qinghai Power Generation Co Ltd | 26 |
| Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute | Huaneng Renewables Corporation Limited | 22 |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd | Contemporary Amperex Future Energy Research Institute (Shanghai) | 21 |
| Northwestern Polytechnical University | Northwestern Polytechnical University Shenzhen Research Institute | 8 |
| Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute | Huaneng Group Technology Innovation Center Co Ltd | 3 |
| Tongwei Solar Energy (Chengdu) Co Ltd | Southwest Petroleum University | 3 |
| Trina Solar Co Ltd | Nanjing University | 2 |
| Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute | Tsinghua University | 2 |
| Wuxi Utmost Light Tech Co Ltd | Kunming University of Science and Technology | 2 |
| Nankai University | China Three Gorges Corporation | 2 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Trina Solar leads; Contemporary Amperex Technology is a notable cross-industry challenger
Both the leader and the primary challenger entered this specific passivation-layer space recently, reflecting a broader wave of industrial commitment to perovskite technology after 2021.
Trina Solar Co Ltd
Trina Solar holds 172 patent families, the largest position in the corpus. Its technology emphasis is concentrated in H10K device subclasses (H10K30, H10K71, H10K85), consistent with a focus on organic semiconductor device architecture for passivation. Momentum data classifies Trina Solar as a new entrant on a recent-period basis, meaning the bulk of its portfolio has been built rapidly and recently rather than accumulated over many years — a signal of deliberate strategic investment.
patent families: 172Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) holds 70 patent families and is classified as a new entrant in momentum terms, with 78 recent-period families — indicating its perovskite passivation activity is almost entirely recent. Its technology focus mirrors the field’s dominant H10K subclasses. CATL’s entry as a battery manufacturer signals that energy storage players view perovskite solar cell technology as strategically adjacent, and its research institute arm filed an additional 37 families through a Hong Kong entity.
patent families: 70| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Trina Solar Co Ltd | 116 | ▲ new entrant |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd | 78 | ▲ new entrant |
| Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute | 49 | ▲ new entrant |
| Wuxi Utmost Light Tech Co Ltd | 66 | ▲ new entrant |
| Hanwha Solutions Corp | 43 | ▲ new entrant |
| Xian TJ-Solar New Energy Co Ltd | 48 | ▲ new entrant |
| Nankai University | 20 | ▲ new entrant |
| Chint New Energy Technology Co Ltd | 47 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served adjacent branches in passivation chemistry and nanomaterials
Several IPC branches adjacent to the dominant H10K device class show relatively low filing density despite clear technical relevance to passivation layer design; these represent areas where the existing patent thicket is thinner and where differentiated chemistry could be established.
C07F · Organo-metallic and non-carbon compounds
With 117 records against a corpus dominated by H10K, organo-metallic compound chemistry is under-represented relative to its technical importance in passivation agent design — lead-halide coordination chemistry and tin-based alternatives both fall here. Entry paths include filing on novel metal-organic passivation molecules not yet claimed in the H10K device context, potentially offering compound-level protection that complements device patents held by larger players.
Search this in Eureka →B82Y · Nanotechnology applications
Nanotechnology-classified records number 75, a sparse share given that nanostructured passivation layers — including quantum dots, nanosheets, and 2D material interlayers — are actively researched in academic literature. The relative thinness here suggests that nano-passivation approaches have not yet been systematically patented by industrial filers, leaving room for entrants with scalable nanostructure deposition processes to establish defensible positions.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ by technology sub-route
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 31 · Semiconductor devices | H10K 39 · Organic semiconductors (OLED etc.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trina Solar Co Ltd | Strong · 164 | Strong · 143 | Moderate · 75 | Absent | Emerging · 27 |
| Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute | Strong · 77 | Strong · 68 | Strong · 43 | Absent | Absent |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd | Strong · 92 | Moderate · 45 | Moderate · 45 | Absent | Absent |
| Hanwha Solutions Corp | Strong · 66 | Absent | Strong · 64 | Absent | Moderate · 20 |
| Wuxi Utmost Light Tech Co Ltd | Strong · 65 | Strong · 47 | Moderate · 22 | Absent | Absent |
| Chint New Energy Technology Co Ltd | Strong · 50 | Strong · 43 | Strong · 28 | Absent | Emerging · 6 |
| Nankai University | Strong · 39 | Strong · 36 | Strong · 26 | Absent | Emerging · 5 |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus covers 3,486 patent families globally, reflecting a field that has grown sharply from modest origins earlier in the decade.
Trina Solar Co Ltd leads with 172 patent families, more than double the second-ranked Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute at 84 patent families.
China is the dominant filing jurisdiction by a wide margin. South Korea, WIPO PCT, the United States, and Europe (EPO) each represent substantially smaller shares of filing records.
The field is classified as Growth, with annual filings still rising. Filing volume accelerated from 2022 onward, and the most recent years are understated due to publication lag.
H10K (organic semiconductors and related devices) dominates with 3,209 records. H01L (semiconductor devices) is the next largest at 488 records. All other branches are considerably smaller.
Yes. The strongest co-filing activity is within the Huaneng group — Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute filed jointly with Huaneng Qinghai Power Generation (26 families) and Huaneng Renewables (22 families). Contemporary Amperex Technology and its Shanghai research institute co-filed 21 families. University–industry links exist but are smaller in scale.
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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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