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

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

7

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

8

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.

9

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.

10

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

11

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.

12

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

13

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.

14

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.

15

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

16

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

17

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

18

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

19

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

20

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

21

This 1889 patent describes the Hall-Héroult process, which uses electricity to extract pure aluminum from its ore, making the metal affordable for everyone.

22

A 19th-century patent by Nikola Tesla describing an early method for distributing and regulating electric light using high-frequency alternating current.

23

An 1886 patent describing an early design for an electrical transformer that helped make alternating current power distribution practical for homes and businesses.

24

Rudolf Diesel's 1898 patent describes a highly efficient engine that ignites fuel using the heat generated by compressing air rather than using a spark plug.

25

A method for testing how electrical components in a power grid react to disturbances to ensure the grid remains stable and doesn't crash.

26

A 1927 patent for a pump that uses electromagnetic forces to move conductive liquids without needing moving mechanical parts like pistons or impellers.

27

A system that lets smart home devices like thermostats enroll in energy-saving programs without the user needing to manually provide their utility account number.

28

A 1947 patent for a radiation detection device that uses a gas-filled tube to identify and count high-energy particles.

29

Alfred Nobel's 1868 patent for dynamite, which made the volatile liquid explosive nitroglycerin safe to handle by mixing it with an absorbent material.

30

An 1851 patent by John Gorrie describing a mechanical process to create ice by compressing air and using it to cool water.