SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS, France – August 26, 2025 │ In a bold strategic move to expand its global footprint and technological leadership, Lyten has acquired Northvolt’s assets and intellectual property, positioning itself as a major player in the rapidly evolving battery industry.
Lyten took the opportunity of Northvolt bankruptcy to speed up its expansion
Lyten, an American company founded in 2015, mainly develops and implements its proprietary 3D Graphene platform to create decarbonizing products, especially lithium‑sulfur (Li‑S) batteries, alongside composite materials, sensors, and more. Lyten has raised over $625 million in equity to date, including more than $200 million in new funding announced in July 2025 to support its ongoing acquisition strategy, and a separate $650 million Letter of Intent (LOI) from the Export Import Bank of the US (more information). Recently, Lyten took the opportunity of Northvolt assets sell to speed up its expansion in Europe. In November 2024, Lyten acquired Northvolt’s Cuberg battery manufacturing facility in California, and in early July 2025, it announced acquiring Northvolt Dwa, Europe’s largest BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) manufacturing site in Gdańsk, Poland. On July 28, 2025, Lyten also acquired the rights to Northvolt’s BESS product portfolio (Voltpack Mobile Systems, Voltrack, and future BESS products), with engineering talent based in Stockholm and manufacturing set to resume in Gdańsk. Most recently, on August 7, 2025, the company signed a binding agreement to acquire remaining Northvolt assets in Sweden and Germany, including Northvolt Ett and Ett Expansion (Skellefteå), Northvolt Labs (Västerås), and Northvolt Drei (Heide), along with all remaining Northvolt intellectual property (more information). Lyten is also pursuing discussions around Northvolt North America and exploring a potential facility in Québec, Canada. In parallel, Lyten announced organizational changes that included the departure of key battery technology executives (more information).
Lyten’s Patent Portfolio: From Early Acquisitions to 2024 Filing Spike
“Lyten holds 151 patent families, comprising more than 280 granted patents and 250 pending patent applications. In 2018-2019, the company acquired over 40 patent families from Nokia/Alcatel-Lucent. All Lyten’s patents published before 2017 come from this acquisition. Since 2017, Lyten continuously filed patents with a clear increase since 2023.”, explains Fleur Thissandier, PhD, Senior Technology and Patent Analyst at KnowMade.
Figure 1: Yearly patent publications in Lyten’s patent portfolio: patent filings and patent acquisitions
Lyten mainly holds alive patents in the US with few patent extensions in Europe, China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.
Figure 2: Geographical distribution of Lyten’s granted patents and pending patent applications (as of July 2025)
Among Lyten’s 151 patent families, 60 relate to energy storage, especially Li-S batteries, Li-ion batteries and lithium extractions and recycling. The company primarily holds patents on topics other than batteries, such as electronic components, material manufacturing methods and apparatus not specific to battery, and other applications of graphene.
Figure 3: Technological breakdown of Lyten’s patent portfolio (as of July 2025)
Deep technological dive into Lyten’s battery patent portfolio
Lyten’s patents cover several innovations on Li-ion batteries, Li-S batteries, Lithium extraction & recycling and metal-air batteries. Half of Lyten’s patent portfolio on Li-ion batteries come from Nokia/Alcatel-Lucent’s patents published in 2010-2014 and acquired in 2018-2019. Lyten began filing its own patents related to Li-ion batteries in 2020 and has increased its patenting activity since 2024. The company has been filing patents on Li-S batteries since 2019 and has been diversifying its portfolio with patents on lithium extraction and recycling since 2023, as well as on metal-air batteries since 2022.
Li-ion batteries: Advanced Structures, Interfaces & Processing
Lyten’s patent portfolio spans five key innovation areas in Li-ion electrode design:
- Gradient-structured electrodes layer high-density and high-conductivity carbon aggregates to optimize both energy and power (see patents WO2024091355 and US11870063).
- Free-standing 3D carbon architectures eliminate metal current collectors by employing mesoporous, self-supporting networks (US20240290942, US20210032110).
- Ex-situ electrodeposited Li-composite anodes pre-lithiate multilayer carbon films to improve first-cycle efficiency (US20210210753).
- Protective barrier and advanced binder formulations shield collectors from corrosion while maintaining mechanical integrity (US20130309527, US20120028127).
- Binder-free ionic-liquid-based slurries enable simplified, flexible electrode coatings (US20130149585).
Together, these patent families illustrate a strategic focus on tailoring porosity gradients, integrating 3D scaffolds, controlling lithiation, safeguarding interfaces, and streamlining processing to drive next-generation battery performance.
Figure 4: Scheme of inventions on Li-ion batteries patented by Lyten, extracted from US11198611 and US20250007094
Lyten’s Li-ion battery cells portfolio showcases a rich diversity of cell-format innovations, led by lightweight polymeric support systems that replace metal frames with interpenetrating polymer networks for enhanced strength, flexibility and recyclability (see patents WO2025006059, US20250007094, US20250006974 and US12009531). Pre-deposited lithium on porous carbon anodes boosts initial capacity and cycle life (US20210210753), while 3D structured electrodes, ranging from open-wall lattices (US20190378663) and gyroid-templated collectors (US20140050988) to elastic polymer-ink coatings (US20130265003), maximize surface area and mechanical compliance. Stretchable, hermetically sealed electrolyte chambers enable truly deformable cells for wearable applications (US20130224551), and integrated energy-harvest/storage designs marry Li-ion storage with dye-sensitized solar conversion in a single roll-to-roll process (US20130147420). Visual-state-of-charge cathodes eliminate electronics by using color-changing oxides (US20110104534), and compact roll-up units built from CVD-grown carbon nanotubes point to ultrathin, flexible power modules (US20100178531), altogether positioning this portfolio at the forefront of next-generation Li-ion device form factors.
Li-S batteries: From Alloy Anodes to 3D Scaffolds
Lyten’s Li–S electrode portfolio reveals four clear innovation thrusts:
- Freestanding Li–Mg alloy anodes leverage Mg- or Ca-doped Li matrices with conductive fillers and protective polymer/ionic-liquid layers to suppress dendrites and accommodate volume changes without heavy current collectors (see patents US20250219068, WO2025145092 and WO2024259126).
- Hierarchically porous carbon–sulfur cathodes integrate nested pore architectures and catalytic nanoparticles (e.g., MgO, WC) to confine polysulfides, boost sulfur loading and stabilize redox kinetics (US20250029999, WO2024249601).
- Ex-situ Li–loaded carbon composites offer a pre-deposited lithium reservoir atop graded-porosity carbon layers, balancing ion transport and mechanical support for higher initial capacity (US20210210753).
- Advanced 3D architectures, including dual-layer gradient electrodes (US20240136508), graphene-based structured composites (US20210226195), expansion-tolerant carbon scaffolds (US20210057751), and self-assembled mesoporous carbon particles (US20210032110), tune porosity and mechanical resilience to maximize energy density and cycling stability while eliminating binders.
Figure 5: Scheme and SEM images of inventions on Li-S batteries patented by Lyten, extracted from US12249690 and WO2024259126
Lyten’s Li–S battery portfolio comprises a coherent suite of innovations tackling key performance bottlenecks. Several patents introduce advanced catholyte/electrolyte systems, ranging from porous carbon hosts loaded with fluorinated-ether electrolytes to dual-matrix gel polymers, that markedly improve polysulfide confinement and ionic conductivity (see patents US11367895, WO202585743, and WO2024118412). Some patents focus on engineered interfacial and protective layers, such as metal-decorated graphene SEIs and polymer-inorganic coatings on separators and Li anodes, to suppress dendrite formation and shuttle effects (US11600876, US20240204355, US11127941, US20230035506). Other patents propose streamlined cell architectures (tab-less and direct-contact jelly-roll designs) that reduce interfacial resistance and simplify manufacturing (WO202435494, WO2023205403). The patent US10734653 delivers high-surface-area carbon composites for superior electrode conductivity. Other patent families further extend these strategies with hybrid electrolytes and advanced coating chemistries.
Collectively, these patent families outline a multi-pronged approach to overcoming Li–S limitations through synergistic materials and structural design.
Li extraction & recycling: Membrane-driven electrochemical processes
Lyten’s patent portfolio provides a clear focus on innovative, membrane-driven electrochemical processes and complementary materials for high-purity lithium recovery and battery applications. At its core are solid-electrolyte membrane extraction systems that selectively transport Li⁺ and enable integrated energy recovery (US12012664, US20240309529, WO2024191424, US20250075356), while a related US20240309520 extends this approach to in-situ lithium salt precipitation. A molten-metal catholyte design further advances direct lithium metal production (US20240309532). A water-impermeable, carbon-based membrane article underscores robustness in aqueous environments (US11779886). Beyond separation, the patent portfolio includes heterostructured carbon–metal-carbide electrocatalysts for enhanced kinetics in Li–S cells (US11888159). Other patents such as WO2024063872, US20250030077, and US20240392456 are dedicated to closed-loop recycling and critical‐mineral reclamation with near-zero net energy loss. Finally, a geothermal-powered dissociating reactor getter cartridge (US20230304129) rounds out the collection by enabling continuous capture of reactive species in green lithium extraction.
Figure 6: Scheme of inventions on Lithium extraction & recycling patented by Lyten, extracted from US20240309520 and EP4590875
Metal-air batteries: Pore-Engineered Cathodes
Lyten’s patent portfolio on metal-air batteries (US12183951, EP4315458) and lithium-air batteries (US11735745) employs hierarchically engineered porous carbon cathodes to optimize oxygen diffusion and electrolyte access. Each uses a carbon-based cathode framework, whether a textured scaffold or fused spheres, to provide structural support and abundant catalytic sites. Both architectures feature controlled electrolyte activation (via a removable moisture barrier or embedded dry-electrolyte beads) to prevent premature reactions and extend shelf life. They integrate protective interlayers or coatings (hygroscopic films or inorganic/passivation layers plus polymer encapsulation) to regulate moisture, suppress side reactions, and inhibit dendrite growth. The designs share a thin, flexible form factor that enables lightweight burst-power delivery or long-cycle stability.
Overall, these patent families converge on advances in pore engineering, activation control, and electrode protection to meet diverse metal-air system needs.
Strategic Northvolt acquisition boosts Lyten’s global Li-ion battery IP
The acquisition of Northvolt’s assets and intellectual property (IP) substantially elevates Lyten’s IP strength and European footprint. It significantly expands Lyten’s presence in Europe, fortifying both its technological and manufacturing position across the continent. It reinforces its IP in Li‑metal electrodes, a technology originally developed by Cuberg (a Northvolt subsidiary since 2021) and broadens its overall IP position in Li‑ion battery technologies, complementing its growing Li‑S and sustainable battery capabilities. Indeed, Northvolt’s patent portfolio comprehensively covers the entire battery supply chain, from active materials and essential components to their integration into battery cells and packs, as well as recycling methods. Northvolt’s IP portfolio addresses key contemporary technological themes, including Si/SiOx anodes, NMC cathodes, electrolyte additives, inorganic/polymer separators, non-PFAS binders, dry electrode processing, tab-less electrode configurations, advanced safety and thermal management strategies at both cell and pack levels, recycling technologies, and in-line quality monitoring solutions. More technological details on Northvolt’s innovations are disclosed in our latest free insight.
Europe’s evolving battery landscape, marked by increasing investments and strategic consolidations, remains a focal point for companies aiming to secure supply-chain resilience and technological leadership. Lyten’s latest moves signal its aspiration to be at the forefront of this dynamic environment. In this thriving context, Knowmade publishes in-depth reports and provides monitoring services to track and analyze competitors’ R&D and intellectual property strategies. These insights help identify the focus areas of industry leaders, emerging players, and start-ups, offering an early perspective on their strategic direction, technological investments, and product development efforts.
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About the author
Fleur Thissandier, PhD, works at KnowMade as Senior Analyst in the field of Materials Chemistry and Energy storage. She holds a PhD in Materials Chemistry and Electrochemistry from CEA/INAC, (Grenoble, France), and a Chemistry Engineering Degree from the Superior National School of Chemistry (ENSCM Montpellier, France). Fleur previously worked in battery industry as R&D Engineer.
About KnowMade
KnowMade is a technology intelligence and IP strategy consulting company specialized in analyzing patents and scientific publications. The company helps innovative companies, investors, and R&D organizations to understand the competitive landscape, follow technological evolutions, reduce uncertainties, and identify opportunities and risks in terms of technology and intellectual property.
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