Exploring knowledge flows of network on patent of dye sensitized solar cell

Research on Green Energy Industry becomes one of the main fields in many countries that focus on global warming and energy shortage since in recent years. Green Energy Industry is for reducing the crisis of global warming and finding the alternative energy sources to solve the issue of energy shortage. In the past, the limited raw material was confined by geographical factors. Green industry was not effectively distributed over the world, but the industry proactively and continuously innovates the research to overcome existing problems. In recent years, the advanced technology of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell has been used. It made solar energy industry step into the third generation of innovation, and highlight the importance of solar energy industry. By using patent citing, it helps to understand the technology development and knowledge flows become a main trend. This study was based on the U.S.A patent database collection data of the third-generation Dye-sensitized Solar Cell with the five countries, United States, Japan, Germany, Spain and Taiwan. Through the structural analysis, it explored patentees and company matrix with social network analysis method. By this method, practitioners can understand the patentees, technology development and activities of knowledge flow from these five countries. This study discovered that Japan is the master country on Dye-sensitized Solar Cell industry. The main patent technology number is H01G009. In addition to the knowledge which flows between the research unit, subsidiary and patent company, this study expected to provide a reference for the industry, government and academia so that they will understand the importance of the knowledge, specialist cultivation and future development in Dye-sensitized Solar Cell industry.