The global perovskite solar cell patent landscape is evolving rapidly, reflecting fast technological progress and growing interest. In the global perovskite solar cell field, dynamic changes in patent activity clearly demonstrate the rapid development of this emerging technology and its commercial potential. According to statistics from PatSnap, as of October 2025 the total number of patents related to perovskite solar cells worldwide reached 43,835.
Global perovskite solar cell patent application timeline (number of applications)
In terms of development, the period from 2006 to 2013 can be seen as the nascent phase, with annual patent applications remaining at around 200–300. Since 2014, patent applications have entered a period of rapid growth, and it is projected that by 2027 the number of perovskite solar cell-related patent applications will reach 7,317.
Looking at the distribution of patent types, invention patents account for 68.97% of all filings, indicating a focus on technological innovation. Authorized invention patents account for 24.36%, utility model patents account for 6.64%, and design patents make up only 0.01% of the total.
From a geographical perspective, the national distribution of patent applications mirrors the pattern seen in crystalline silicon PV. China continues to dominate perovskite solar cell R&D, with over 33,300 related patents, or 75.85% of the global total. Japan holds 5,235 patents, accounting for 11.94%; the United States has 2,168 (4.94%); South Korea has 1,182 (2.69%); and Germany has 590 (1.34%). Overall, China’s perovskite solar cell industrialization process is extremely rapid, and in the near future its volume of corporate patents is unlikely to be surpassed by other countries. Japanese and South Korean companies rank among the leaders thanks to their forward-looking technological layouts, while the industrialization progress of the United States and Germany is relatively lagging and slow, but the technological content and quality of their corporate patents remain high.
The top five companies worldwide in terms of the number of perovskite patent applications are CATL (1,130), Trina Solar (686), Semiconductor Energy Research Institute Co., Ltd. (656), China Huaneng Research Institute (572), and Panasonic Corporation (544). Notably, CATL and Trina Solar filed a large number of patent applications during 2023–2024.
