TOPCon Absorber (n-Si) Patent Landscape 2026
The TOPCon n-type silicon absorber field is still expanding on a multi-year basis, with the field still in a Growth lifecycle stage, though annual volume has eased from its 2023 peak. Chinese manufacturers dominate filings, with Chuzhou Jietai New Energy Tech leading, and H01L semiconductor device patents accounting for the overwhelming share of technical activity.
Chinese manufacturers lead a moderately concentrated but rapidly growing field
Chuzhou Jietai New Energy Tech Co Ltd holds the top position with 29 patent families, followed closely by Chint New Energy Tech Co Ltd with 25 and Yingli Energy Development and Changzhou Shichuang Energy each with 20, establishing a tight leading tier.
The top five filers account for 25% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers, indicating moderate concentration rather than monopoly control — a competitive structure where multiple challengers can realistically gain ground.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chuzhou Jietai New Energy Tech Co Ltd | 29 | |
| 2 | Chint New Energy Tech Co Ltd | 25 | |
| 3 | Yingli Energy Development Co Ltd | 20 | |
| 4 | Changzhou Shichuang Energy Co Ltd | 20 | |
| 5 | Hanwha SolarOne Qidong | 14 | |
| 6 | Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd | 13 | |
| 7 | Huaian Jietai New Energy Technology Co Ltd | 12 | |
| 8 | Yingli Energy Development (Baoding) Co Ltd | 11 | |
| 9 | National Electric Power Investment Group Yellow River Upstream Hydropower Development Co Ltd | 11 | |
| 10 | Wuhu GCL System Integration New Energy Technology Co Ltd | 10 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) | 10 | |
| 12 | 3Sun Srl | 9 | |
| 13 | NINGBO INST OF MATERIALS TECH & ENG CHINESE ACAD O… | 9 | |
| 14 | Jolywood (Taizhou) Solar Technology Co Ltd | 9 | |
| 15 | Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd Xi’an Solar Power Branch | 9 | |
| 16 | Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd Xining Solar Power Branch | 9 | |
| 17 | Trina Solar Co Ltd | 8 | |
| 18 | Wuxi Songyu Technology Co Ltd | 8 | |
| 19 | Jiangsu Microvia Nano Equipment Technology Co Ltd | 7 | |
| 20 | Dongfang Huansheng Photovoltaic (Jiangsu) Co Ltd | 6 |
The leaders’ positions reflect vertically integrated Chinese solar manufacturers and state-linked energy groups, suggesting that process optimization and cell structure patents are being filed closest to manufacturing scale-up, not just early-stage research.
Filing counts for 2024–2026 are understated due to standard patent publication lag; apparent softness in those years should not be read as a real slowdown. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Filings surged through 2023 and technology remains anchored in semiconductor device classes
The annual filing trend reveals a field that accelerated sharply from 2021 onward, while the technology composition chart shows that semiconductor device patents dominate, with coating, crystal growth, and cleaning processes forming a secondary layer.
Annual filing trend
Annual filings grew from near zero in 2017 to a recorded peak in 2023, representing a 193% increase in the recent three-year window versus the prior three-year window. The apparent drop in 2024–2026 reflects publication lag and should not be interpreted as a real decline.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H01L (Semiconductor devices) accounts for the dominant share of IPC-classified records, with H10P, C23C (Coating and surface deposition), and C30B (Crystal growth) forming a secondary cluster. Branches such as B08B (Cleaning), B23K (Welding and soldering), and B82Y (Nanotechnology) are present but sparse, pointing to under-developed process ancillaries.
↗ 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.
Preparation method for N-type TOPCon Cell
A preparation method for an N-type TOPCon cell comprising <b>1</b>) texturing an N-type silicon wafer with an alkaline solution; <b>2</b>) performing boron diffusion and laser lightly-doping on a front face of the wafer to form a lightly-doped region, and performing re-diffusion to form a front mask; <b>3</b>) polishing a back face of the wafer; <b>4</b>)… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一种隧穿氧化层钝化接触太阳能电池及其制备方法 | 61 |
| 2 | 一种激光硼掺杂选择性发射极TOPCon结构电池及其制备方法 | 57 |
| 3 | TOPCon电池及其制备方法和电器设备 | 55 |
| 4 | 一种TOPCon结构电池的制备方法 | 42 |
| 5 | 一种基于PECVD技术的高效低成本N型TOPCon电池的制备方法 | 36 |
| 6 | 用于Topcon电池制作的poly-Si绕镀的去除方法 | 34 |
| 7 | 管式PECVD制备多晶硅钝化接触结构的方法 | 33 |
| 8 | 一种隧穿氧钝化接触晶体硅太阳电池的制备方法 | 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 combination of Growth-stage dynamics, moderate concentration, and. China-centric filing geography creates specific implications for how entrants and incumbents should allocate R&D resources.
Growth stage with peak-year volume easing
The field is classified in a Growth lifecycle stage: the recent three-year filing window is 193% above the prior three-year window, confirming multi-year expansion. However, annual volume has eased from its 2023 peak, suggesting the initial scaling rush is maturing into more selective, differentiated filings. New entrants still have a window before the field consolidates.
Growth · post-2023 peakModerate concentration leaves room for challengers
With the top five filers holding 25% of the hundred largest filers’ combined output, no single entity has locked up the space. The top-ranked applicant, Chuzhou Jietai, holds 29 patent families — a meaningful lead but not an insurmountable one. Firms ranked six through twenty each hold between 6 and 13 patent families, indicating an active secondary tier that could shift rankings quickly.
Moderate concentrationState-affiliated group filing is the dominant collaboration pattern
The most active co-filing cluster involves Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd, its Xi’an and Xining solar subsidiaries, and the National Electric Power Investment Group Yellow River entity, with up to 13 jointly filed patent families. Yingli Energy Development and its Baoding subsidiary form a second cluster with 9 co-filed families. Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (Chinese Academy of Sciences) co-files with Boweiruite Solar Technology, linking academic and commercial interests.
State-group clustersChina-dominant with thin international protection
China accounts for 323 of the jurisdictional patent records, while WIPO PCT filings number 13 and European EPO filings 12. United States records stand at 9 and India at 7. This sharp home-market bias means that non-Chinese entities face relatively sparse prior art barriers if seeking protection in Western markets, but also that Chinese applicants have limited international enforcement reach today.
China-centric · thin ROWGo 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd | National Electric Power Investment Group Yellow River Upstream Hydropower Development Co Ltd | 13 |
| Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd | Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd Xi’an Solar Power Branch | 11 |
| Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd | Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd Xining Solar Power Branch | 11 |
| National Electric Power Investment Group Yellow River Upstream Hydropower Development Co Ltd | Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd Xi’an Solar Power Branch | 11 |
| National Electric Power Investment Group Yellow River Upstream Hydropower Development Co Ltd | Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd Xining Solar Power Branch | 11 |
| Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd Xi’an Solar Power Branch | Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd Xining Solar Power Branch | 11 |
| Yingli Energy Development Co Ltd | Yingli Energy Development (Baoding) Co Ltd | 9 |
| Chint New Energy Technology Co Ltd | Zhejiang Chint Solar Technology Co Ltd | 2 |
| Yingli Energy Development Co Ltd | Yingli Energy Development (Tianjin) Co Ltd | 2 |
| Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences | Boweiruite Solar Technology Co Ltd | 2 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Top players defined by semiconductor device focus and new-entrant momentum
The leading applicants share a near-exclusive focus on H01L 31 semiconductor device patents — cell structure and process integration — while their filing momentum diverges sharply, with most top players characterized as new entrants in the recent period.
Chuzhou Jietai New Energy Tech
Holds 29 patent families, the highest in the corpus, concentrated in H01L 31 (semiconductor devices) with secondary activity in H01L 21 and B08B 3 (cleaning). Momentum is flagged as a new entrant, indicating the bulk of these filings arrived in the recent period — consistent with rapid capacity-scale-up filing behavior rather than long-term incremental R&D.
families: 29Chint New Energy Tech
Holds 25 patent families, ranking second, with a primary focus on H01L 31 and a notable secondary presence in H10F (Photovoltaic and light-sensitive devices), suggesting broader cell architecture coverage beyond pure absorber processing. The trajectory shows a –50% trend in the most recent period, indicating a possible shift in filing strategy or portfolio consolidation rather than exit from the space.
families: 25| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Chuzhou Jietai New Energy Tech Co Ltd | 28 | ▲ new entrant |
| Chint New Energy Technology Co Ltd | 8 | ▼ -50% |
| Changzhou Shichuang Energy Co Ltd | 12 | ▲ new entrant |
| Yingli Energy Development Co Ltd | 19 | ▲ new entrant |
| Hanwha New Energy (Qidong) Co Ltd | 14 | ▲ new entrant |
| Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences | 3 | ▲ new entrant |
| Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd | 9 | ▲ new entrant |
| National Electric Power Investment Group Yellow River Upstream Hydropower Development Co Ltd | 9 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served process branches adjacent to the dominant semiconductor device core
While H01L semiconductor device patents dominate, several process-engineering branches are present at low volume, pointing to areas where technical differentiation may be achievable with fewer competing filings.
C30B · Crystal growth processes
With only 19 patent records classified under C30B, crystal growth methods for n-type silicon substrate preparation remain an under-served branch relative to the cell-level H01L core. High-quality n-Si wafer crystallinity directly affects TOPCon carrier lifetime and passivation quality, giving crystal growth process IP plausible technical leverage. Entrants with existing crystal growth expertise — particularly in Czochralski or float-zone processes — have a realistic path given the sparse prior art in this branch.
Search this in Eureka →B08B · Cleaning processes for TOPCon fabrication
Only 7 patent records appear under B08B (Cleaning, general), despite surface cleaning being a critical pre-deposition step that directly affects tunnel oxide and poly-Si layer quality in TOPCon cells. The sparsity of cleaning-specific IP is an observation, not a validated gap — it may partly reflect that cleaning steps are claimed within broader H01L process patents. For equipment makers or chemical suppliers focused on contamination control, this branch warrants a targeted prior-art search before investment.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ by technology route
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | H01L 31 · Semiconductor devices | H01L 21 · Semiconductor devices | C23C 16 · Coating & surface deposition | H10P 72 | C30B 33 · Crystal growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yingli Energy Development Co Ltd | Strong · 19 | Strong · 14 | Emerging · 2 | Moderate · 5 | Absent |
| Chuzhou Jietai New Energy Tech Co Ltd | Strong · 28 | Absent | Absent | Absent | Emerging · 1 |
| Yingli Energy Development (Baoding) Co Ltd | Strong · 11 | Strong · 9 | Absent | Moderate · 5 | Absent |
| Chint New Energy Technology Co Ltd | Strong · 24 | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Changzhou Shichuang Energy Co Ltd | Strong · 20 | Emerging · 3 | Absent | Emerging · 1 | Absent |
| National Electric Power Investment Group Yellow River Upstream Hydropower Development Co Ltd | Strong · 13 | Moderate · 3 | Emerging · 1 | Absent | Absent |
| Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd | Strong · 13 | Moderate · 3 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus contains 376 patent families in scope across the global landscape analyzed.
Chuzhou Jietai New Energy Tech Co Ltd leads with 29 patent families, followed by Chint New Energy Tech Co Ltd with 25.
China is the dominant filing jurisdiction with 323 patent records. WIPO PCT and European EPO filings number 13 and 12 respectively, with the United States at 9 and India at 7, indicating limited international patent protection outside China.
The field is in a Growth stage. The recent three-year filing window is 193% above the prior three-year window, confirming multi-year expansion, though annual volume has eased from its 2023 peak.
H01L (Semiconductor devices) dominates with 378 patent records. Secondary branches include H10P, C23C (Coating and surface deposition) with 32 records, and C30B (Crystal growth) with 19 records.
Yes. The most active co-filing cluster involves Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co Ltd and its subsidiaries together with the National Electric Power Investment Group Yellow River entity, with up to 13 jointly filed patent families. Yingli Energy Development and its Baoding subsidiary form a second cluster with 9 co-filed families.
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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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