Most cited clean energy patents

1

A foundational patent describing the specific metal contacts needed to make gallium nitride LEDs efficient and commercially viable.

2

The foundational 1955 patent by Enrico Fermi and Leo Szilard describing the design of the first nuclear reactor capable of a self-sustaining chain reaction.

3

This 1976 patent describes using a specific form of non-crystalline silicon to create cheap, thin semiconductor devices like solar cells.

4

This 1934 patent describes the cyclotron, a machine that uses magnetic and electric fields to whip particles into high speeds for scientific research.

5

This 1977 patent describes an early rechargeable battery design using lithium as one electrode and titanium disulfide as the other, a key step towards modern lithium-ion technology.

6

This 1981 patent details the chemistry behind the lithium-cobalt oxide cathodes that power almost every modern smartphone, laptop, and electric vehicle.

7

A system that boosts a vehicle's fuel cell power by injecting pure oxygen into the air supply when the engine needs extra energy.

8

This patent describes an integrated system that uses extra oxygen in a blast furnace to make iron more efficiently, while also capturing the furnace's waste gases to generate electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

9

A 1954 invention by Bell Labs researchers that created the first silicon-based solar cell capable of converting sunlight into enough electricity to power everyday devices.

10

A 1952 patent for a durable, thin-film catalyst structure that allows gases to flow freely over reactive surfaces, forming the foundation for modern vehicle exhaust systems.

11

A 1968 patent by Gordon Gould describing methods to generate and amplify radiation at frequencies exceeding visible light, building on his foundational laser work.

12

This patent describes using a unique carbon-fluorine compound as a catalyst in a special type of electrolysis cell to make chlorine and caustic soda more efficiently by preventing hydrogen gas from forming.

13

A self-contained battery module that houses both high and low voltage batteries, a power converter, and safety switches in a single unit designed for efficient heat management.

14

This patent describes a system for rapidly charging electric vehicles using high-voltage grid power and a unique 'pulse current' method that can also automatically park the car.

15

A foundational 1982 method for creating the materials used in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries by removing ions at low temperatures.

16

This patent describes a compact, modular system for mixing and pumping fluids used in oil and gas wells, powered by electricity or natural gas, using gravity to feed materials into a main blender.

17

A 1916 patent by William Coolidge for a high-vacuum X-ray tube that used a heated tungsten filament to control electron flow, replacing older, unreliable gas-filled tubes.

18

This patent describes a fuel cell system that captures and recycles over 95% of the unused hydrogen from its exhaust stream using a special pump, significantly boosting efficiency.

19

A 1981 patent for genetically engineered bacteria capable of breaking down multiple types of oil, which became the first living organism ever patented.

20

Thomas Edison's 1880 patent for a carbon-filament electric lamp that made indoor lighting reliable and commercially viable for the first time.

21

This patent describes a snake-like robot with at least two movable arms that work together to perform complex tasks, like inspecting pipes or lifting heavy objects.

22

This patent describes a fuel cell system that uses a smaller, secondary fuel cell to power itself during startup and shutdown, and to recycle hydrogen from its exhaust during normal operation.

23

A 1957 patent from Union Carbide that defined the construction of the long-lasting alkaline battery, replacing older zinc-carbon designs.

24

This patent describes adding special reflective extensions and caps to the ends of a single-axis tracking solar trough to capture more sunlight that would otherwise be lost, making the collector more efficient.

25

A 1930 patent by Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard for a refrigerator that uses electromagnetic pumps instead of moving mechanical parts to circulate coolant.

26

A 1973 design for an electric motor that uses a single central coil to power several separate armatures arranged in a circle.

27

This patent describes a process that uses electricity to split steam and then reacts the resulting hydrogen with carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide to create various carbon-based compounds, like fuels or plastics.

28

This patent describes a simple, energy-saving way to create large, efficient catalyst electrodes using a mix of iron, cobalt, and nickel compounds through an electrical plating process.

29

This patent describes a wind turbine blade design that reduces noise by attaching a special serrated plate to its trailing edge, integrated directly into one of the blade's outer surfaces.

30

Willis Carrier's 1906 patent for an apparatus to control humidity and temperature, forming the technical foundation for modern air conditioning systems.