Silicon-based anodes for Li-ion batteries Patent Landscape 2012

• Publication date: February 2012

IP Overview presents a patent mapping analysis of the “Silicon-based anodes for Li-ion batteries” field. Carbon based materials are the almost only current commercial anode material (99% of the anode material’s market). The need for higher capacity for lithium-ion secondary cells has led to a search for replacement materials. Silicon would be a potential alternative of active material because its intercalation capacity is the highest...

IP Overview presents a patent mapping analysis of the “Silicon-based anodes for Li-ion batteries” field.

Carbon based materials are the almost only current commercial anode material (99% of the anode material’s market). The need for higher capacity for lithium-ion secondary cells has led to a search for replacement materials. Silicon would be a potential alternative of active material because its intercalation capacity is the highest known of 4200mAh/g, corresponding to a composition of Si5Li22. However, the large capacity fade observed during initial cycling has prevented the silicon anode from being widely adopted. Massive R&D and patent applications filings were conducted in order to prevent this capacity fading and improve overall performance of silicon-based anodes.

The present report analyses the patent environment and notably highlights the strategy of current major players. These major patent holders are end-users and fully integrated players (Sony, LG, Samsung, Panasonic…), battery manufacturers (Sanyo, GS Yuasa, Hitachi, Hitachi Maxell…), material manufacturers (Shin-Etsu Chemical, Sumitomo Metal Industries, Mitsui Mining Smelting, 3M …) and institutional players (Argonne National Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Science, AIST (JP), KAIST (KR)).

In a competitive sector starting in the 1990s with important portfolio being filed as of 1997, this « IP Overview – Si-based anode for Li-ion batteries » provides you with a comprehensive panorama of the intellectual property landscape (over 2300 patent families analysed) and helps you:

- Position your company’s R&D and IP Portfolio

- Identify key inventors and key players involved in specific type of Silicon (amorphous, crystalline, SiOx, Si graphite, Alloy…)

- Understand the collaboration networks and theirs dynamics

Please note that a three months access to the full patent database is also included.

Battery Industry

Generalities

Brief outline of the technology
Brief outline of the market
Roadmap of emerging battery technologies
Patent Query

World analysis


Evolution of patent filings (1990-2010)
Main applicants
Breakdown of filings of the main institutional applicants over time
Breakdown of filings of the main industrial applicants over time
Main co-filings between applicants
Industrial & institutional filings over time
Map of priority filings
Evolution of priority filings
Comparison between place of filings and origin of the inventors
Map of extensions
Breakdown of the portfolio
Most cited patent families
Most extended patent families
Granting rate analysis – JP, US, EP

Regional focus
Japan focus
South Korea focus
USA - Canada focus
China – Taïwan focus
Europe focus

For each regional focus is presented the following information
Industrial & institutional filings over time
Main applicants
Extensions
Main co-filings between inventors
Main co-filings between applicants
Breakdown by applicant

Applicant focus
Sony
Samsung SDI
LG Chemical
Canon
3M
Seiko Instruments
Mitsui Mining & Smelting
Sumitomo Metal Industries
Panasonic
Sanyo
Nexeon
Shin-Etsu Chemical
Amprius
GS Yuasa

For each applicant focus is presented the following information
Evolution of patent filings
Map of extensions
Extension policy
Portfolio mapping: content of the patents
Portfolio mapping: Type of Si in anodes
Portfolio mapping: Form Factors
Portfolio mapping: Manufacturing methods