Sodium-Ion Battery Cathode Material Patent Landscape
Sodium-Ion Battery Cathode Material Patent Landscape in 2026
The sodium-ion battery cathode material field is in a growth phase, with the Brunp Recycling group and Central South University commanding the top positions and China accounting for the dominant share of filings. Activity is highly concentrated among a small cluster of Chinese industrial and academic filers, with only a handful of non-Chinese entrants yet establishing a significant presence.
Brunp Recycling entities and Central South University lead a concentrated field
Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd ranks first among all applicants, followed closely by Central South University and two sister Brunp entities — Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd and Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd — each with substantial patent records. Hubei Wanrun New Energy Tech Co Ltd and Hubei RT Advanced Materials Co Ltd round out the top six industrial players.
The top five filers account for 27% of the combined patent records of the hundred largest filers, indicating a moderately concentrated field where a single industrial group — the Brunp cluster — effectively occupies the top four positions when its affiliated entities are viewed together.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | 16 | |
| 2 | Central South University | 15 | |
| 3 | Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | 13 | |
| 4 | Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd | 13 | |
| 5 | Hubei Wanrun New Energy Tech Co Ltd | 12 | |
| 6 | Hubei RT Advanced Materials Co Ltd | 10 | |
| 7 | Brown University | 7 | |
| 8 | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | 6 | |
| 9 | Indigenous Energy Storage Tech Pvt Ltd | 6 | |
| 10 | SHAANXI UNIV OF SCI & TECH | 5 |
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Guizhou Zhenhua E-Chem Inc | 5 | |
| 12 | China Three Gorges University | 4 | |
| 13 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 4 | |
| 14 | Beijing Zhichanhui Technology Co Ltd | 4 | |
| 15 | Jiangsu Xiangying New Energy Tech Co Ltd | 4 | |
| 16 | Fujian Normal University | 4 | |
| 17 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | 4 | |
| 18 | BYD Co Ltd | 3 | |
| 19 | South China University of Technology | 3 | |
| 20 | Jilin University | 3 |
The Brunp group’s dominance signals that vertically integrated battery-materials recycling and manufacturing companies, rather than pure-play cell makers, have staked the earliest and deepest claims in this space. Academic institutions such as Central South University and Shaanxi University of Science & Technology fill key positions, suggesting that university-industry collaboration remains an important pipeline for new filings.
The most recent 18–24 months of data are affected by publication lag and likely undercount actual filing activity; the competitive picture for 2024–2025 should be treated as a floor, not a ceiling. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Multi-year growth with H01M dominance and selective adjacent-branch activity
The filing trend chart shows how annual activity has evolved since 2017, while the technology composition chart reveals the IPC branches covered by this corpus and their relative weight.
Annual filing trend
Annual filings peaked around 2019, dipped through 2020–2021, then rebounded strongly from 2022 onward. The three-year recent window sits 93% above the prior three-year window on a multi-year basis, though annual volume has eased from the 2019 peak. Figures for 2024–2025 are understated by publication lag and should be read as minimums.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H01M (Batteries, cells & fuel cells) overwhelmingly dominates the IPC mix, reflecting the applied electrochemistry focus of the field. C01G (Compounds of other metals) and C01B (Non-metallic elements & inorganic compounds) are the next most active branches, indicating meaningful work on precursor synthesis and phosphate/oxide chemistries. B82Y (Nanotechnology applications) appears at a lower level, pointing to nanostructuring as a secondary but real research direction.
↗ 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.
Single-crystal sodium-ion battery cathode active m…
Disclosed is a preparation method for a single-crystal sodium-ion battery cathode material. The single-crystal sodium-ion battery cathode active material comprises: sodium, metal M, boron, and oxygen elements, and the preparation method comprises a step of adding an M-containing compound, a B-containing compound and a sodium source to water to form a slurry… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lithium and sodium containing layered oxide materi… | 49 |
| 2 | 一种利用冷冻干燥法制备的碳包覆金属离子掺杂磷酸钒钠复合正极材料及其制备方法与应用 | 47 |
| 3 | 一种钠离子电池正极材料、其制备方法以及钠离子电池 | 45 |
| 4 | 一种钠离子电池氧化物正极材料及其制备方法和应用 | 41 |
| 5 | 一种钠离子电池正极材料Na3V2(PO4)3的制备方法 | 38 |
| 6 | 一种聚阴离子型钠离子电池正极材料及其制备方法 | 37 |
| 7 | 用作钠离子电池负极的氮掺杂多孔碳材料制备方法 | 35 |
| 8 | 一种三元钠离子电池正极材料、其制备方法以及钠离子电池 | 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 patent structure means for R&D investment decisions
Four structural dimensions — maturity, concentration, collaboration, and geography — shape where risk and opportunity lie for new entrants and incumbents alike.
Growth stage with easing annual peaks
The field is classified as Growth: recent three-year filings are 93% above the prior three-year window, confirming sustained expansion on a multi-year basis. Annual volume has eased from the 2019 peak, but this partially reflects publication lag in 2024–2025. Teams entering now face an active but not yet saturated prior-art landscape, with room to differentiate on specific chemistries such as layered oxides, phosphates, and Prussian-blue analogues.
Growth stageTop-tier dominated by one industrial group
The top five filers hold 27% of the hundred largest filers’ combined patent records, and those five slots are effectively shared among the Brunp Recycling affiliates and Central South University. This tight cluster means that a single supply-chain ecosystem controls the densest portion of the prior-art thicket. Challengers should map claim scope carefully before investing in layered-oxide cathode routes where Brunp entities are most active.
Moderately concentratedBrunp group co-files dominate ecosystem links
The most active co-filing pairs are Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd with Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd (16 jointly filed records), and both with Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd (13 records each). A minor co-filing link also exists with Hunan Brunp Automotive Recycling Co Ltd. This co-filing network is essentially intra-group, suggesting that outside the Brunp cluster, cross-entity collaboration is sparse and represents a potential structural gap for academic-industry partnerships.
Intra-group co-filingChina-centric filing with limited Western coverage
China is the lead jurisdiction by a wide margin, followed by the United States, Europe (EPO), India, and WIPO (PCT). South Korea, the United Kingdom, Japan, and a handful of others have marginal presence. The thin PCT and EPO coverage relative to the China total suggests that many Chinese filers have not yet pursued broad international protection, creating a window for non-Chinese players to establish early defensive or offensive positions in Western markets.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | 16 |
| Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd | 13 |
| Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd | 13 |
| Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Hunan Brunp Automotive Recycling Co Ltd | 1 |
| Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Hunan Brunp Automotive Recycling Co Ltd | 1 |
| Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd | Hunan Brunp Automotive Recycling Co Ltd | 1 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Brunp Recycling group leads; Central South University anchors academic tier
The leading positions are split between an industrial recycling-and-materials group and a major Chinese research university, both of which entered as new filers in the recent window.
Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd
Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd holds 16 patent records and ranks first overall. Its technology focus is concentrated in H01M 4 (electrode materials) and H01M 10 (secondary batteries), with secondary activity in C01G 45 (manganese compounds), reflecting a layered-oxide cathode emphasis. The applicant momentum data classifies it as a new entrant in the recent window, indicating that its entire position has been built rapidly and recently.
patent records: 16Central South University
Central South University holds 15 patent records and ranks second, making it the leading academic filer. Its focus spans H01M 4 and H01M 10, with a secondary presence in B82Y 40 (nanotechnology applications), suggesting an interest in nanostructured cathode architectures alongside bulk-material synthesis. As an academic institution, it represents a potential collaboration or licensing partner for industrial players seeking to expand beyond the Brunp ecosystem.
patent records: 15| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | 13 | ▲ new entrant |
| Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | 13 | ▲ new entrant |
| Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd | 13 | ▲ new entrant |
| Hubei Wanrun New Energy Tech Co Ltd | 12 | ▲ new entrant |
| Hubei RT Advanced Materials Co Ltd | 10 | ▲ new entrant |
| Brown University | 2 | ▲ new entrant |
| Indigenous Energy Storage Tech Pvt Ltd | 6 | ▲ new entrant |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | 4 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served IPC branches adjacent to the core cathode chemistry space
Two IPC branches sit at notably lower filing density relative to the dominant H01M core, each with plausible technical relevance to sodium-ion cathode development.
C01B · Non-metallic elements & inorganic compounds
C01B covers phosphorus, sulfur, and related inorganic compound synthesis — directly relevant to phosphate-framework cathodes such as Na3V2(PO4)3, which appear among the most-cited works in this corpus. With only 26 patent records and an 8% share of the IPC mix, dedicated phosphate-precursor synthesis routes remain sparsely protected. Teams with expertise in inorganic chemistry and polyanion cathode design could establish differentiated positions here with relatively low prior-art density.
Search this in Eureka →B82Y · Nanotechnology applications
B82Y covers nanoscale material design and characterization, with 23 patent records and a 7% share. Nanostructuring is a recognized lever for improving ionic diffusion kinetics and rate performance in sodium-ion cathodes, yet the filing density is low. Central South University and Shaanxi University of Science & Technology each hold a small presence here. The sparse coverage suggests that systematic nanoengineering approaches — such as carbon-coated nanoparticles or hollow nanostructures — are not yet heavily claimed, representing an adjacent area worth monitoring for differentiated entry.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ by technology route
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | H01M 4 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | H01M 10 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | C01G 53 · Compounds of other metals | C01B 25 · Non-metallic elements & inorganic compounds | B82Y 40 · Nanotechnology applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Strong · 16 | Strong · 14 | Absent | Moderate · 5 | Absent |
| Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd | Strong · 16 | Strong · 14 | Absent | Moderate · 5 | Absent |
| Central South University | Strong · 14 | Strong · 13 | Emerging · 1 | Absent | Emerging · 2 |
| Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd | Strong · 13 | Strong · 11 | Absent | Moderate · 5 | Absent |
| Hubei Wanrun New Energy Tech Co Ltd | Strong · 12 | Strong · 10 | Emerging · 2 | Absent | Absent |
| Shaanxi University of Science and Technology | Strong · 11 | Strong · 9 | Absent | Absent | Emerging · 2 |
| Brown University | Strong · 7 | Strong · 7 | Absent | Strong · 6 | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus covers 177 patent families. China is the lead filing jurisdiction, accounting for the largest share of office-level records.
Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd ranks first with 16 patent records, followed by Central South University with 15. Three further Brunp-affiliated entities — Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd, Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd, and Hubei Wanrun New Energy Tech Co Ltd — hold the next positions.
Yes, on a multi-year basis. Recent three-year filings are 93% above the prior three-year window, placing the field in a Growth stage. Annual volume has eased from the 2019 peak, and the most recent years are further understated by publication lag, so the current trajectory likely understates true activity.
China dominates with 133 patent records at the office level, followed by the United States (32), Europe via the EPO (19), India (17), and WIPO PCT applications (10). South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Japan have limited presence, and several other jurisdictions have only one to three records each.
The most-cited work is titled ‘Lithium and sodium containing layered oxide materials’ with 49 citations, followed by a Chinese patent on freeze-drying-prepared carbon-coated metal-ion-doped sodium vanadium phosphate cathode materials (47 citations), and a further Chinese patent on a sodium-ion battery cathode material and its preparation method (45 citations). Phosphate-framework and layered-oxide chemistries dominate the high-citation list.
Collaboration is heavily intra-group. The strongest co-filing pairs are Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd with Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd (16 co-filed records) and both entities jointly with Hunan Brunp EV Recycling Co Ltd (13 records each). Outside the Brunp ecosystem, cross-entity collaboration is sparse across the top 100 applicants.
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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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