NANOCAGE MOLECULES: A COMPREHENSIVE BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATIONS OF NANOCAGE TECHNOLOGIES IN CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH

Abstract

The burgeoning field of nanotechnology has experienced a surge of interest in nanocages, fullerene-like molecular structures with hollow interiors and internal cavities that offer unique containment properties. To elucidate the current landscape of this field, we conducted a comprehensive bibliometric review of nanocage applications. Quantitative variables were analyzed using Vosviewer, and a thorough literature search on Scopus yielded 1,418 articles, which were refined to 223 relevant publications. Our findings indicate that China leads in the volume of nanocage-related research publications, while the United States stands out as the most collaborative country. 'Adsorption' emerged as the most frequently used keyword in nanocage applications. Ayub, K. was identified as the most prolific author, and the Chemical Engineering Journal ranked as the top journal in terms of the number of articles published. The peak year for publications on nanocage technology applications was 2022, with 48 publications, and the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China was the leading contributing institution. These results highlight knowledge gaps and emerging trends, emphasizing the potential of nanocages to address significant global challenges.