Material-resolved patent landscape of all-solid-state battery electrolytes: technology evolution, collaboration networks, and commercialization implications

초록

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are widely regarded as a promising pathway toward safer, higher-energy electrochemical storage for next-generation energy storage applications. However, limited quantitative evidence is available on how different solid electrolyte families are prioritized in real-world R&D portfolios. This study combines a structured review of solid electrolyte materials with a material-resolved patent analysis of 4328 patent families to map the global innovation landscape of ASSB electrolytes filed between 1999 and 2023. Patents were classified into seven subtypes: polymers, sulfides, oxides, sulfide–oxide hybrids, halides, hydrides, and polymer–inorganic hybrids. Guided by technology evolution and innovation-network perspectives, six hypotheses were examined concerning technological prioritization, platform transition, collaboration intensity, organizational composition, complementary platform emergence, and jurisdictional maturity. The results were consistent with all six hypotheses and indicated a pattern suggestive of sequential evolution, in which sulfide electrolytes have to date been the most prominent platform (45% of filings), while halides and polymer–inorganic hybrids appeared as fast-growing alternatives, indicating that the field may be diversifying rather than converging on a single platform. Collaboration-network analysis showed that 75% of leading hubs were centered on sulfide electrolytes and that firm and academia representation was balanced (50%–50%), suggesting a more balanced organizational structure than is often reported in emerging technology fields. From a commercialization perspective, the prominence of sulfide electrolytes suggests a continued need for controlled-atmosphere manufacturing and specialized processing infrastructure, whereas the growing visibility of halides and polymer–inorganic hybrids points to alternative development pathways with distinct manufacturing profiles. Overall, the findings indicate that ASSB commercialization strategies should consider not only electrochemical performance but also manufacturing requirements and application-specific needs.

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