A patent landscape on Fe3O4/graphene-based nanocomposites in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Patent analysis is one of the most critical means to swiftly extract technical and statistical information and provide it to users in the related fields. As the commercialization of many products in today's world is strongly dependent on patents, patent analysis can provide researchers with beneficial and accessible information. In this research, we review the patents pertinent to the usage of graphene-based materials and Fe3O4 nanoparticles in negative electrode of lithium-ion batteries due to the essential roles of the aforementioned materials in anodes. Based on the searching techniques adopted in this research, the related patents are extracted and statistically and technically discussed with a focus on Fe3O4 /graphene nanocomposites. China, the United States of America, and South Korea possess a considerable stake in advancing the Fe3O4 /graphene nanocomposites as anode materials. Patents have been registered in this area started from 2009 until 2021 have shown an upward growth compared to prior years. China, USA, and South Korea are determined as the pioneer countries with technical knowledge in the form of patents in this field. Two American companies, Global Graphene (21 patents) and Nanotek Instruments (13 patents), are the leading companies in this field of technology. The most widely used methods for the synthesis of Fe3O4 /graphene-based nanocomposites are autoclave (hydrothermal or solvothermal), thermal, and ball mill. Materials of iron chloride, iron nitrate, iron sulfate, and graphene-based compounds in the form of sheet, platelet, foam, quantum dot, and mesoporous have been the most common precursors for the fabrication of Fe3O4 /graphene-based nanocomposites. The most reported morphologies are related to the zero-dimensional (0D) and one-dimensional (1D) structures of Fe3O4 . Batteries, supercapacitors, sensors, and catalysts are respectively four applications at which the Fe3O4 /graphene-based nanocomposites are mostly used.