A Bibliometric Voyage through Scientific Creativity in Chemistry

Scientific creativity is a vital element in driving innovation and progress in chemistry. This bibliometric study addresses key research questions to explore trends and patterns in scientific creativity within this field. The study investigates six key aspects: (1) the research trends categorized based on the year of publication, (2) the most productive authors contributing to the subject, (3) the types of documents used in this research domain, (4) network mapping based on popular keywords, (5) collaboration networks through co-authorship by countries, and (6) citation patterns by country. To answer these questions, bibliometric data were extracted from the Scopus database. The data were analyzed using VOSviewer to generate network maps and measure the impact of various research entities. The results revealed that yearly trends indicated a steady rise in research outputs from 2020 to 2023, with a peak in 2023 and a minor decline in 2024. Meanwhile, Ernawati, Haryanto, and Rahmawati are the most productive authors shaping the field. Journal articles dominate the research output (90%), reflecting their critical role in disseminating high-quality, peer-reviewed work. Keyword network mapping reveals a focus on multi-disciplinary, with themes such as STEM education, critical thinking, and the integration of creativity in chemistry classrooms. Co-authorship analysis indicates that Indonesia leads regional collaborations with Turkey and Malaysia, while developed nations like the US and Germany play vital roles in global partnerships. China’s contributions further broaden the field’s scope. Citation-based mapping identifies Indonesia, China, and Germany as top contributors, showcasing global chemistry research’s interconnected and collaborative nature. These findings offer a thorough overview of the current state of scientific creativity in chemistry, emphasizing the significance of inclusive research initiatives, interdisciplinary strategies, and global partnerships. The insights are valuable for researchers, policy-makers, and educators in prioritizing future research directions, fostering collaborations, and addressing gaps to promote sustained growth in the field.