Exploring the landscape of electrochemical energy storage technologies: A disruptive innovation perspective

As the global energy transition accelerates, electrochemical energy storage has become pivotal for enabling renewable energy integration and decarbonization. Understanding disruptive technologies of electrochemical energy storage is crucial, as it enables innovators and stakeholders to anticipate market shifts, allocate R&D resources strategically, and secure long-term competitive advantages in the rapidly evolving energy sector. However, although extensive knowledge of development trends, systematic research on disruptive technologies of electrochemical energy storage remains limited. By applying established methods to quantify patent disruption and conduct citation network analysis, this study provides a systematic framework for identifying disruptive innovations in this field. Our analysis reveals that only 7.3% of patents in this field are highly disruptive, concentrated in the United States, Japan, and South Korea, with Ford Global Technologies and Toyota as major contributors, and despite entering the field later, LG Chem and Samsung SDI emerged as leading players. In the technological knowledge flow network, highly disruptive patents are widely dispersed. Notably, smart charging for electric vehicles and solid-state battery technologies exhibit greater concentrations of highly disruptive patents, suggesting strong susceptibility to technological transformation. Additionally, highly disruptive patents are less common in mainstream communities; appearing instead in smaller, isolated clusters and initially attracting limited attention, though they may trigger transformation once recognized. We suggest policymakers and researchers should prioritize domains with high disruptive potential and employ patent knowledge graphs to monitor emerging innovations, thereby providing a robust evidence base for strategic R&D investment.