Solid-State Battery Safety Patent Landscape 2026
LG Energy Solution leads a moderately concentrated field of 1,291 patent families, holding the largest single position among the top hundred filers. The field is in a growth stage, with filings expanding on a multi-year basis and a broad mix of Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and North American players actively staking positions.
LG Energy Solution leads a moderately concentrated field
LG Energy Solution holds the top position in solid-state battery safety, followed by Toyota Motor Corporation and Murata Manufacturing. The top five filers account for 36% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers, indicating a meaningful but not extreme concentration.
A clear tier gap separates the top two filers from the rest of the ranking. LG Energy Solution’s lead over Toyota is substantial, and Toyota’s count is roughly double that of the third-ranked Murata Manufacturing, suggesting two distinct leading tiers before the field broadens.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LG Energy Solution Ltd. | 164 | |
| 2 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 99 | |
| 3 | Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | 49 | |
| 4 | Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. | 29 | |
| 5 | Hyundai Motor Company | 28 | |
| 6 | Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. | 24 | |
| 7 | GM Global Technology Operations LLC | 23 | |
| 8 | Solid Power Operating Inc. | 20 | |
| 9 | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | 19 | |
| 10 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 18 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | GS Yuasa International Ltd. | 17 | |
| 12 | Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. | 16 | |
| 13 | Maxell Ltd. | 16 | |
| 14 | The Regents of the University of California | 16 | |
| 15 | SVOLT Energy Technology Co., Ltd. | 15 | |
| 16 | Beijing WeLion New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. | 14 | |
| 17 | NGK Insulators Ltd. | 14 | |
| 18 | Robert Bosch GmbH | 12 | |
| 19 | Hefei Guoxuan High-Tech Power Energy Co., Ltd. | 12 | |
| 20 | Harbin Institute of Technology | 11 |
The breadth of the top-twenty list — spanning battery makers, automakers, electronics conglomerates, a specialty materials firm, and a U. S. university — signals that safety in solid-state batteries is treated as a multi-disciplinary problem requiring expertise across cell chemistry, structural design, and system integration.
Filings from roughly the last 18–24 months are subject to publication lag and will be under-counted in any current snapshot; final counts for those periods are expected to rise as applications publish. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Sustained growth with battery-cell filings dominant; adjacent material-science branches remain sparse
Two charts capture the tempo and composition of this field: the annual filing trend shows a multi-year upward arc, while the technology composition chart reveals that H01M (batteries, cells, and fuel cells) dominates, with a long tail of lower-activity branches representing potential adjacencies.
Annual filing trend
Filings grew steadily from 2017 through a 2024 peak, reflecting the growth lifecycle stage. The 2025 and 2026 bars are materially under-counted due to patent publication lag and should not be read as a reversal; the multi-year trajectory remains upward.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H01M (batteries, cells, and fuel cells) accounts for the overwhelming majority of classified records, confirming that safety innovation is anchored in cell-level design. Secondary branches including inorganic chemistry (C01B), polymer systems (C08F, C08G), and conductor/insulator materials (H01B) are each represented at low single-digit shares, marking them as adjacent but under-developed areas 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.
Solid electrolyte composition for triple-doped gar…
The present disclosure relates to a solid electrolyte composition for a triple-doped garnet-type all-solid-state battery, a solid electrolyte for a triple-doped garnet-type all-solid-state battery using the same, and a method for preparing the solid electrolyte for a triple-doped garnet-type all-solid-state battery and, more particularly, to a solid… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Integrated thin film batteries on silicon integrat… | 145 |
| 2 | Solid-state battery and method for manufacturing e… | 90 |
| 3 | All-solid-state battery | 77 |
| 4 | Bipolar all-solid-state battery | 71 |
| 5 | all-solid-state cell | 70 |
| 6 | Anodeless coating layer for all-solid-state batter… | 64 |
| 7 | 复合固态电解质和柔性全固态电池及制备方法、可穿戴电子设备 | 60 |
| 8 | 一种多层结构复合固态电解质膜及其制备方法、固态电池 | 56 |
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 combination of a growth-stage lifecycle, a concentrated but broadening applicant base, active industry-university collaboration, and a clear U. S.–China–Europe jurisdictional spread shapes where new entrants can most efficiently deploy resources.
Growth stage — multi-year expansion, annual volume near peak
The lifecycle is classified as Growth, with annual filings still rising on a multi-year basis and 2024 representing the evident peak year in the data. The 8% recent-window growth confirms the field has not yet entered consolidation. New filings continue to address both materials-level safety (electrolyte composition, coating layers) and system-level safety (thermal management, short-circuit protection), indicating the innovation frontier is still wide.
Growth stageTop-heavy but not closed — two dominant tiers, then open field
The top five filers hold 36% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers, and a visible tier gap separates LG Energy Solution and Toyota from ranks three through five. Below rank five, the field opens considerably, with counts declining gradually through the top twenty. This structure gives mid-tier entrants room to build defensible positions in sub-domains without immediately competing head-on with the two leaders.
Moderate concentrationHyundai–Kia leads co-filing; LG Energy Solution connects to academia
The most active co-filing pair is Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation, with 21 jointly filed patent families — by far the largest collaboration count in the dataset. LG Energy Solution co-files with the Regents of the University of California (7 families) and with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (2 families), while LG Chem also links to UC (2 families). Toyota and Panasonic share 4 co-filed families. These patterns suggest that automakers are pooling safety IP across group entities, while battery makers are reaching into academic research pipelines.
Industry–academia linksU.S. leads filings; China is the second-largest jurisdiction
The United States is the leading filing jurisdiction, followed closely by China, with Europe (EPO) and WIPO (PCT) representing significant secondary coverage routes. India has emerged as a notable fifth jurisdiction. South Korea appears lower than its applicant representation might suggest, indicating that Korean leaders are preferentially filing in U.S. and Chinese markets rather than domestically. An R&D team building a freedom-to-operate position must address both the U.S. and Chinese portfolios, which together account for the largest share of the filing landscape.
U.S. + China primaryGo 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Motor Company | Kia Corporation | 21 |
| LG Energy Solution Ltd. | The Regents of the University of California | 7 |
| Toyota Motor Corporation | Panasonic Corporation | 4 |
| LG Energy Solution Ltd. | Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) | 2 |
| LG Chem Ltd. | The Regents of the University of California | 2 |
| Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 2 |
| Hyundai Motor Company | Hanyang University ERICA Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation | 2 |
| Hyundai Motor Company | Seoul National University R&DB Foundation | 2 |
| Kia Corporation | Hanyang University ERICA Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation | 2 |
| Kia Corporation | Seoul National University R&DB Foundation | 2 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
LG Energy Solution and Toyota dominate; Samsung Electro-Mechanics and GM are new entrants accelerating fast
The two leading filers differ in trajectory: LG Energy Solution holds the largest absolute position but is filing at a reduced recent pace, while Toyota is accelerating. A cohort of new entrants — Samsung Electro-Mechanics, GM Global Technology Operations, Samsung SDI, and Hyundai Motor — has entered the top rankings with no prior-period base, signaling rapid mobilization.
LG Energy Solution
LG Energy Solution holds 164 patent families, the largest position in the corpus. Its technology emphasis is concentrated in H01M 10 (secondary batteries and their manufacture) and H01M 4 (electrodes), consistent with cell-level safety design. Recent momentum shows a 32% decline versus the prior three-year window, suggesting the initial build-out phase has moderated, though the absolute portfolio remains the field’s reference point.
families: 164Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota holds 99 patent families and is the field’s most visibly accelerating established player, with recent filings up 47% versus the prior three-year window. Like LG Energy Solution, Toyota’s focus sits in H01M 10 and H01M 4, but its co-filing relationship with Panasonic (4 families) hints at a supply-chain integration dimension to its safety strategy. The acceleration suggests Toyota is prioritizing solid-state safety IP ahead of anticipated vehicle-program timelines.
families: 99| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| LG Energy Solution Ltd. | 42 | ▼ -32% |
| Toyota Motor Corporation | 28 | ▲ +47% |
| LG Chem Ltd. | 3 | ▼ -94% |
| Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | 11 | ▼ -63% |
| Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. | 7 | ▲ new entrant |
| Hyundai Motor Company | 10 | ▲ new entrant |
| Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. | 15 | ▲ new entrant |
| GM Global Technology Operations LLC | 14 | ▲ new entrant |
Inorganic compounds and polymer electrolyte branches are under-served relative to the cell-safety core
Five IPC branches sit adjacent to the dominant H01M core but represent low single-digit shares of classified records. Two of them combine relative sparsity with plausible technical relevance and a realistic entry path for teams with materials-chemistry expertise.
C01B · Non-metallic elements & inorganic compounds
This branch covers synthesis and characterization of non-metallic inorganic materials — directly relevant to sulfide and oxide solid electrolyte development, where purity and structural control are key safety determinants (dendrite suppression, interfacial stability). With a 3% share of classified records, it is substantially under-represented relative to its technical importance. Teams with inorganic synthesis capability could build differentiated positions by linking electrolyte composition claims to safety-outcome claims, a connection currently sparse in the corpus.
Search this in Eureka →C08F / C08G · Addition and condensation polymers
Polymer-based and composite solid electrolytes (C08F for vinyl-type, C08G for condensation-type) collectively account for roughly 2% of classified records, despite growing interest in polymer-ceramic hybrid electrolytes as a route to flexible, safer cell formats. The low filing density in these branches relative to H01M suggests that polymer safety mechanisms are being claimed primarily within the battery-cell IPC rather than at the materials level. Entrants with polymer chemistry depth could occupy the materials-level space before it attracts broader competition.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ by technology sub-route
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | H01M 10 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | H01M 4 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | H01M 50 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | C01B 25 · Non-metallic elements & inorganic compounds | H01M 2 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG Energy Solution Ltd. | Strong · 112 | Strong · 62 | Emerging · 14 | Absent | Absent |
| Toyota Motor Corporation | Strong · 93 | Strong · 53 | Emerging · 15 | Absent | Emerging · 10 |
| Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Strong · 49 | Strong · 27 | Strong · 30 | Emerging · 2 | Emerging · 3 |
| LG Chem Ltd. | Strong · 61 | Strong · 31 | Emerging · 11 | Absent | Emerging · 3 |
| Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. | Strong · 29 | Strong · 23 | Emerging · 4 | Absent | Absent |
| Hyundai Motor Company | Strong · 28 | Strong · 18 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| GM Global Technology Operations LLC | Strong · 23 | Strong · 13 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The current corpus covers 1,291 patent families in scope globally. The United States is the leading filing jurisdiction, followed by China and Europe (EPO).
LG Energy Solution holds the largest position with 164 patent families, ahead of Toyota Motor Corporation with 99 patent families. The top five filers together account for 36% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers.
The lifecycle is classified as Growth. Filings have expanded on a multi-year basis with 8% recent-window growth. The 2024 data point represents the highest annual volume in the trend series, and 2025–2026 figures are under-counted due to publication lag, so the field has not demonstrably peaked.
Toyota Motor Corporation shows a 47% increase in recent versus prior three-year filings among established players. Samsung Electro-Mechanics, GM Global Technology Operations, Samsung SDI, and Hyundai Motor are classified as new entrants with no prior-period base, indicating rapid mobilization from a standing start.
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation are the most active co-filing pair with 21 jointly filed patent families. LG Energy Solution co-files with the Regents of the University of California (7 families) and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (2 families), reflecting an industry-academia pipeline for safety-oriented cell research.
The C01B branch (non-metallic elements and inorganic compounds) and the polymer branches C08F and C08G (addition and condensation polymers) each represent low single-digit shares of classified records despite their relevance to electrolyte safety. These branches may offer entry points for teams with materials-chemistry depth, though they remain observations of relative sparsity rather than confirmed commercial opportunities.
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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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