A Comprehensive Review of Superconductivity Research Productivity

Abstract

This study discusses the development in the field of superconductivity with a focus on the analysis of research publications in superconductivity based on the information from the Web of Science from 1929 to 2021. The work provides the most comprehensive scientometric study on superconductivity to date, which covers the analysis of 79,061 publications. Specifically, the following analyses were conducted: research trends between 1929 and 2021, country-wise research productivity, journal sources analysis, most productive organizations, most influential funding agencies, and research clusters. The study demonstrates that there is a steady growth in superconductivity research. This study also revealed that the USA emerged as the most prolific country with 19,587 publications and 738,984 citations, followed by Japan with 15,923 publications and 347,488 citations, then China with 9743 publications and 152,487 citations, and Germany with 6402 publications and 166,211 citations. Also, the majority of the publications were published in Physical Review B, IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism, Physica C, Superconductivity and Its Applications, Physical Review Letters. The most productive funding organizations identified are the National Natural Science Foundation of China, United States Department of Energy, Ministry of Education Culture Sports Science and Technology Japan, National Science Foundation, and Japan Society for The Promotion of Science. The authors believe this report will be useful for scientists, funding organizations, and policymakers that are interested in superconductivity in making critical research funding decisions.