Mapping the trends and prospects of battery cathode materials based on patent landscape

Abstract

Advancing portable electronics and electric vehicles is heavily dependent on the cutting-edge lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology, which is closely linked to the properties of cathode materials. Identifying trends and prospects of cathode materials based on patent analysis is considered a kernel to optimize and refine battery related markets. In this paper, a patent analysis is performed on 6 popular cathode materials by comprehensively considering performance comparison, development trend, annual installed capacity, technology life cycle, and distribution among regions and patent assignees. In the technology life cycle, the cathode materials majorly used in electric vehicle have entered maturity stage, while the lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) cathode that is widely used in portable electronics is still in the growth stage. In global patent distributions, China holds more than 50% of total patents. In the top 10 patent assignees of 6 cathode materials, 2 institutes are from China with the rest being Japan (6) and Republic of Korea (2), indicating that the technology of cathode materials in China is relatively scattered while cathode research is highly concentrated in Japan and Republic of Korea. Moreover, the patent distribution has to consider practical issues as well as the impacts of core patents. For example, the high cost discourages the intention of applying international patents. This paper is expected to stimulate battery research, understand technical layout of various countries, and probably forecast innovative technology breakthroughs.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

patent analysis / cathode / batteries / technology life cycle

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