Mapping the Intellectual Structure and Evolution of Global Titanium Minerals Research: A Scopus-Based Scientometric Analysis (2000–2025)

Abstract

Titanium minerals are strategic resources with important applications in metallurgy, advanced materials, renewable energy, environmental remediation, and nanotechnology. Despite the increasing volume of research, a comprehensive scientometric assessment of the global knowledge structure and thematic evolution of titanium minerals remains limited. This study analyses titanium minerals research indexed in the Scopus database between 2000 and 2025 using the Bibliometrix package and Biblioshiny interface in R. A total of 3,708 publications across 972 scientific sources, authored by 10,013 researchers, were analysed. The findings reveal a strong annual publication growth rate of 15.62%, with an average of 4.42 authors per document and 28.12 citations per document. International collaboration accounted for 25.84% of publications, involving researchers from 98 countries, with India emerging as the leading contributor in publication output (2,855) and citation impact. Logistic growth modelling indicates that the field has approached maturity, with cumulative publications reaching approximately 99% of the estimated saturation level of 3,745 publications. Kumar A was identified as the most productive author, with 88 publications and 3,837 total citations, while the Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics was the leading source with 133 publications. Keyword and thematic analyses identified titanium dioxide and oxide minerals as the dominant research themes, reflecting a transition from conventional mineral processing towards nanomaterials, photocatalysis, and advanced functional applications. The study provides a comprehensive scientometric overview of global titanium minerals research, highlighting research growth, collaboration patterns, leading contributors, and thematic evolution to support future research directions and technological innovation.