- Capability group
- Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
- Domain
- Critical Technology · Hard Power
- Identifier
- factbase.org/cap/H6EDVXCQ0Q
- Reference
- Nanomaterials Wikipedia
Papers
35.6k
2020–2024
Paper growth
+16%
2020–24 on 2015–19
Patent families
62.6k
2020–2024
Filed abroad
22%
families in more than one office
What it covers
What the capability covers and what it leaves to others, and the indicators it will be measured by.
Bounds
Covers nanoscale engineering and structured materials; their applications read across the domain, from semiconductors to sensing to therapeutics, and register under the capabilities they enable.
Lineage
Carried from v0.0 (formerly Nanoscale materials and manufacturing) with the same identifier, absorbing Novel metamaterials (retired): both nodes hold the same capacity, engineering properties through structure at small scale.
Indicators
- research publication share in nanomaterialsResearch
- patent families in nanotechnologyPatents
- nanomaterials production outputPending
Who publishes it
Papers classified to the capability, by year and by the nation of their authors' institutions, 2020–2024. Read from the v0.0 research topics Nanoscale materials and manufacturing and Novel metamaterials.
Papers by year
The five leading nations, papers by year
Share of papers, 2020–2024
Of papers with a known author nation; 33% have none and are left out.
- 1China32.4%9,835 papers
- 2United States11.6%3,534 papers
- 3India6.6%2,017 papers
- 4Germany3.3%1,011 papers
- 5United Kingdom3.3%997 papers
- 6Russia2.8%864 papers
- 7Japan2.7%825 papers
- 8South Korea2.5%765 papers
- 9Australia2.2%682 papers
- 10Iran2.2%662 papers
Leading institutions, 2020–2024
By fractional count: each paper divided among its authors' institutions.
- 1Harbin Institute of Technology219fractional papers
- 2Chinese Academy of Sciences199fractional papers
- 3Xi'an Jiaotong University175fractional papers
- 4University of Electronic Science and Technology of China162fractional papers
- 5Shanghai Jiao Tong University153fractional papers
- 6Beijing Institute of Technology142fractional papers
- 7Tianjin University139fractional papers
- 8Northwestern Polytechnical University129fractional papers
- 9Southeast University123fractional papers
- 10Nanjing University114fractional papers
Who patents it
Patent families by the nation of origin of their applicants and their earliest priority year, from the CPC and IPC classes the capability is read from. 2025 onwards is incomplete: families are published 18 months after priority.
Families by priority year
The five leading origins, families by year
15,738 applicants filed here in 2015–2024; the five largest held 9% of families (HHI 28 of 10,000: unconcentrated).
Share of families by origin, 2020–2024
- 1China70.7%44,275 families
- 2United States7.5%4,708 families
- 3South Korea7.4%4,644 families
- 4Japan3.6%2,282 families
- 5Taiwan3.5%2,181 families
- 6Germany0.7%462 families
- 7Russia0.6%386 families
- 8France0.5%340 families
- 9United Kingdom0.4%272 families
- 10Canada0.4%231 families
Applicants filing most internationally, 2015–2024
Families filed in more than one office, by applicant as the offices name them.
- 1SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD1,422international families
- 2TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MFG CO LTD1,377international families
- 3INTEL CORP600international families
- 4SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD281international families
- 5IBM278international families
- 6CENTRE NAT RECH SCIENT274international families
- 7UNIV TSINGHUA271international families
- 8COMMISSARIAT ENERGIE ATOMIQUE256international families
- 9HON HAI PREC IND CO LTD251international families
- 10TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MFG237international families
Classification read
- B82 Nanotechnology: nanostructures, their manufacture and their uses · 869k documents
- C01B32/15 Nano-carbon: graphene, nanotubes, fullerenes · 127.3k documents
- Y10S977/00 Older US nanotechnology cross-reference collection · 169.5k documents
- G02B1/002 Optical metamaterials and photonic crystals · 15.3k documents
- H01Q15/0086 Electromagnetic metamaterials for radio waves · 9.4k documents
Shares inventions with
Capabilities whose classes the same families also fall in, by overlap (Jaccard).
- Quantum Computing1,409 families · 0.045
- Compound & Power Semiconductors2,008 families · 0.045
- Advanced Semiconductor Fabrication5,517 families · 0.034
- Semiconductor Equipment & Materials2,374 families · 0.020
- Functional Materials & Coatings992 families · 0.018
Who makes it
The companies that research, design, make, supply and operate the technology, the global leaders and the leading firms of every region.
50 companies in this capability, from 25 nations across 8 regions. Sorted by how experts see each company's global relevance in the field, from very high to very low.
- Very high5 companies
- 1Very highAdvanced materialsBostonUnited States1882–CBT
One of the world's largest producers of carbon nanotube conductive additives, fumed metal oxides and engineered carbon nanostructures for batteries, polymers and coatings.
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · United States, Boston · founded 1882
- 2Very highAdvanced materialsLeudelangeLuxembourg2009–Private
The world's largest producer of single-wall carbon nanotubes (TUBALL), with production in Novosibirsk and Serbia supplying battery and polymer makers globally.
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · Luxembourg, Leudelange · founded 2009
- 3Very highAdvanced materialsZhenjiangChina2011–688116
China's largest maker of carbon nanotube powders and conductive pastes, a leading supplier to lithium-ion battery manufacturers such as CATL and BYD.
Very high relevance · Advanced materials · China, Zhenjiang · founded 2011
- 4Very highComponents & subsystemsSuwonSouth Korea1969268k005930
The top international patent applicant in this capability, commercialising cadmium-free quantum dot materials in QLED/QD-OLED displays and researching 2D and nanostructured device materials.
Very high relevance · Components & subsystems · South Korea, Suwon · founded 1969 · 268k staff
- 5Very highContract manufacturingHsinchuTaiwan198784k2330
Second-largest international patent applicant in nanotechnology, with research on 2D-material and carbon-nanotube transistors and the world's most advanced nanoscale fabrication.
Very high relevance · Contract manufacturing · Taiwan, Hsinchu · founded 1987 · 84k staff
- High7 companies
- 6HighChemicals & gasesSeoulSouth Korea1947–051910
Operates one of the largest multi-wall carbon nanotube production capacities in the world at Yeosu for battery conductive additives.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · South Korea, Seoul · founded 1947
- 7HighChemicals & gasesEssenGermany200732kEVK
Leading global producer of nanostructured fumed silica and metal oxides (AEROSIL, AEROXIDE) used across coatings, electronics and batteries.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Germany, Essen · founded 2007 · 32k staff
- 8HighSoftware & platformsArmonkUnited States1911270kIBM
A top patent applicant whose research labs pioneered carbon-nanotube and 2D-material transistors and nanosheet device architectures.
High relevance · Software & platforms · United States, Armonk · founded 1911 · 270k staff
- 9HighAdvanced materialsTokyoJapan––Private
Shoei Chemical (incl. Nanosys)Acquired quantum-dot leader Nanosys in 2023 and supplies quantum dot and nano metal powder materials to display and electronics makers.
High relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Tokyo
- 10HighEquipment & machineryBillericaUnited States1960–BRKR
Bruker (Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies)Leading maker of atomic force microscopes and nanomechanical test systems for nanoscale characterisation.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, Billerica · founded 1960
- 11HighEquipment & machinerySt. Florian am InnAustria1980–Private
Global leader in nanoimprint lithography equipment used to mass-produce metasurface optics and nanostructured devices.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · Austria, St. Florian am Inn · founded 1980
- 12HighEquipment & machineryAkishimaJapan1949–6951
Makes electron-beam lithography systems and transmission electron microscopes central to nanofabrication and nanomaterial analysis.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · Japan, Akishima · founded 1949
- Moderate14 companies
- 13ModerateChemicals & gasesColombesFrance200421kAKE
Produces Graphistrength multi-wall carbon nanotubes and nanostructured acrylic block copolymers for batteries and composites.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · France, Colombes · founded 2004 · 21k staff
- 14ModerateChemicals & gasesTokyoJapan1939–4004
Formerly Showa Denko, maker of VGCF vapour-grown carbon nanofibres used as conductive additives in lithium-ion batteries.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1939
- 15ModerateAdvanced materialsTokyoJapan1950–4205
Mass-produces single-wall carbon nanotubes by the AIST Super-Growth method under the ZEONANO brand.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1950
- 16ModerateEquipment & machineryAbingdonUnited Kingdom1959–OXIG
Supplies atomic-layer deposition/etch tools, Asylum Research AFMs and nanoanalysis instruments used to fabricate and characterise nanomaterials.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · United Kingdom, Abingdon · founded 1959
- 17ModerateHardware & devicesRedmondUnited States2012–Private
Commercialised metamaterial-based electronically steered flat-panel satellite antennas (u8, Peregrine, Osprey) for defence and mobility.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Redmond · founded 2012
- 18ModerateHardware & devicesKirklandUnited States2014–Private
Builds metamaterial electronically scanned array (MESA) radars for counter-drone, border security and autonomy.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Kirkland · founded 2014
- 19ModerateDesignBostonUnited States2016––
Harvard spin-out that shipped the first mass-market metasurface optics in consumer devices, manufactured with STMicroelectronics.
Moderate relevance · Design · United States, Boston · founded 2016
- 20ModerateAdvanced materialsHangzhouChina2009–Private
China's leading quantum-dot materials producer, supplying QD films and inks to TV makers including TCL.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · China, Hangzhou · founded 2009
- 21ModerateAdvanced materialsShenzhenChina2007–300769
Largest producer of nano lithium iron phosphate cathode material and also makes carbon nanotube conductive agents.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · China, Shenzhen · founded 2007
- 22ModerateChemicals & gasesSeoulSouth Korea1976–011780
Produces multi-wall carbon nanotubes at Asan for battery and conductive polymer applications and is expanding capacity.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · South Korea, Seoul · founded 1976
- 23ModerateEquipment & machineryKarlsruheGermany2007–Private
Makes two-photon polymerisation 3D nanoprinters widely used to build micro-optics and photonic metamaterials; owned by Sweden's BICO Group.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · Germany, Karlsruhe · founded 2007
- 24ModerateEquipment & machineryDortmundGermany1980–Private
Specialist supplier of electron-beam and focused-ion-beam nanolithography systems for research and nanodevice prototyping.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · Germany, Dortmund · founded 1980
- 25ModerateAdvanced materialsMumbaiIndia1857–Private
Aditya Birla Group (Birla Carbon / Nanocyl)Its Birla Carbon unit acquired Belgian multi-wall carbon nanotube producer Nanocyl in 2021, adding CNT capacity to its carbon black business.
Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · India, Mumbai · founded 1857
- 26ModerateComponents & subsystemsTallinnEstonia2009–Private
Makes ultracapacitors and SuperBattery cells from its patented curved-graphene nanostructured carbon material.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · Estonia, Tallinn · founded 2009
- Low15 companies
- 27LowDesignRedmondUnited States2018––
Develops liquid-crystal metasurface light-control chips for solid-state lidar beam steering.
Low relevance · Design · United States, Redmond · founded 2018
- 28LowHardware & devicesKirklandUnited States2016––
Uses holographic metasurface beamforming for mmWave 5G repeaters deployed by US carriers.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Kirkland · founded 2016
- 29LowAdvanced materialsChangzhouChina2011–Private
Changzhou Sixth Element Materials TechnologyOne of China's largest graphene and graphene oxide powder producers, supplying anticorrosion coatings and thermal management uses (traded on the NEEQ over-the-counter board).
Low relevance · Advanced materials · China, Changzhou · founded 2011
- 30LowAdvanced materialsMontrealCanada2011–GRA
Operates one of the world's largest graphene powder production capacities and makes graphene-enhanced composites.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · Canada, Montreal · founded 2011
- 31LowResearch & IPManchesterUnited Kingdom2001–NANO
Developer of cadmium-free quantum dots (CFQD) whose patent portfolio was licensed by Samsung after litigation settlement.
Low relevance · Research & IP · United Kingdom, Manchester · founded 2001
- 32LowAdvanced materialsSan SebastiánSpain2010–Private
Leading European supplier of CVD graphene wafers, graphene oxide and graphene field-effect transistor chips.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · Spain, San Sebastián · founded 2010
- 33LowAdvanced materialsLomazzoItaly2005–DCTA
Produces chemical-free G+ graphene nanoplatelets for textiles, environmental remediation and composites.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · Italy, Lomazzo · founded 2005
- 34LowAdvanced materialsAmmanfordUnited Kingdom2010–HAYD
Functionalises graphene and other nanomaterials with its plasma process for inks, composites and sensors.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · United Kingdom, Ammanford · founded 2010
- 35LowEquipment & machineryCambridgeUnited Kingdom2012–Private
Its LOOP methane-cracking units produce graphene and hydrogen, with the first LOOP 20 commissioned with Dana Gas at Sharjah Graphene Park, UAE.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · United Kingdom, Cambridge · founded 2012
- 36LowEquipment & machineryWaltham, MassachusettsUnited States2012–NNDMNano Dimension (incl. Markforged)
Develops nanoparticle conductive inks and additively manufactured electronics systems (DragonFly).
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, Waltham, Massachusetts · founded 2012
- 37LowAdvanced materialsMumbaiIndia1907–TATASTEEL
Built India's largest graphene production facility at Jamshedpur and commercialises graphene-enhanced coatings, pipes and composites.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · India, Mumbai · founded 1907
- 38LowEquipment & machineryLiberecCzechia––Private
Pioneer of industrial needle-free electrospinning (Nanospider) lines for nanofibre production.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · Czechia, Liberec
- 39LowResearch & IPMoscowRussia2007–State-owned
Russian state nanotechnology corporation that funded and built nanomaterial producers, including an early stake in OCSiAl.
Low relevance · Research & IP · Russia, Moscow · founded 2007
- 40LowContract manufacturingSingaporeSingapore19992,390MZH
Nanofilm Technologies InternationalSoutheast Asia's leading nano-coating company, applying vacuum-deposited nanoscale films for consumer electronics, automotive and industrial customers.
Low relevance · Contract manufacturing · Singapore, Singapore · founded 1999 · 2,390 staff
- 41LowAdvanced materialsPerthAustralia––TLG
Develops graphene additives (Talphene) and graphitic anode materials from its Swedish graphite deposits.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · Australia, Perth
- Very low9 companies
- 42Very lowAdvanced materialsBengaluruIndia2015––
Indian nanotechnology startup that began with graphene filtration and energy materials and now makes nano-engineered LTO battery cells.
Very low relevance · Advanced materials · India, Bengaluru · founded 2015
- 43Very lowAdvanced materialsSão PauloBrazil1901–GGBR4
Its Gerdau Graphene unit (launched 2021) develops and sells graphene-enhanced masterbatches, paints and coatings in Latin America.
Very low relevance · Advanced materials · Brazil, São Paulo · founded 1901
- 44Very lowAdvanced materialsKuala LumpurMalaysia––GTI
Produces graphite and graphene from palm kernel shell waste at a commercial plant in Malaysia.
Very low relevance · Advanced materials · Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
- 45Very lowAdvanced materialsAnkaraTürkiye2011–Private
Turkey's first carbon nanotube producer, also making graphene and nanopowders at METU Technopolis and Ivedik OSB.
Very low relevance · Advanced materials · Türkiye, Ankara · founded 2011
- 46Very lowAdvanced materialsSão CarlosBrazil2004–Private
UFSCar/Unesp spin-off producing silver-nanoparticle antimicrobial additives for plastics, ceramics and paints.
Very low relevance · Advanced materials · Brazil, São Carlos · founded 2004
- 47Very lowAdvanced materialsMexico CityMexico–––
Mexico's leading graphene producer, making graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide and graphene-enhanced polymer masterbatches and coatings.
Very low relevance · Advanced materials · Mexico, Mexico City
- 48Very lowAdvanced materialsAbu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates––Private
The Nano Company (NanoCarbonX)UAE nano-coatings and graphene group whose NanoCarbonX unit is building an industrial graphene plant at KEZAD under a 2026 Graphene Star licence.
Very low relevance · Advanced materials · United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
- 49Very lowResearch & IPRandburgSouth Africa1934–State-owned
South Africa's state minerals technology council hosting the DSI/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre for nanomaterials in sensors and biomedicine.
Very low relevance · Research & IP · South Africa, Randburg · founded 1934
- 50Very lowAdvanced materialsRandburgSouth Africa2018––
Small South African producer of carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide and nanoparticles for research and industrial users.
Very low relevance · Advanced materials · South Africa, Randburg · founded 2018
