Coal research trends – a bibliometric approach

Coal is a cheap and accessible source of energy. However, the environmental costs associated with its exploitation and combustion are increasing. Burning coal generates large amounts of carbon dioxide. A gas that is a major contributor to global climate change. Coal is a raw material used in various technologies (from energy to medicine) and is also the subject of scientific research. The directions for its use change over time. By tracing research trends related to coal, new research directions can be identified. Bibliometric analysis is used for this purpose, using a variety of data pertaining to scientific publications observed with the development of science. This method makes it possible to analyse networks of research, national and international, and to identify the internal logic of scientific development. This article aims to analyse research topics related to the word “coal” in the period covering 1950–2023. The article presents an analysis of publications indexed in the SCOPUS database. Publications that contained phrases related to search phrases containing the word “COAL” in the title, abstract, or keywords were included in the analysis. The dynamics of changes in the interest of coal researchers in subject areas, research areas, and countries were presented. On this basis, an attempt was made to identify future leading research topics related to coal and to identify limitations and barriers to the development of this research topic.