Global research landscape and thematic evolution of graphene-based materials in environmental remediation: A bibliometric analysis

Graphene and its derivatives, including graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), have emerged as promising materials for environmental remediation owing to their high specific surface area, tunable surface chemistry, adsorption capacity, and multifunctionality. Despite challenges associated with large-scale production and economic feasibility, their applications in pollutant removal and environmental treatment continue to expand. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric assessment of the global research landscape of graphene-based materials for environmental remediation. Bibliographic records were retrieved from the Scopus database using predefined search criteria, and dataset selection was structured in accordance with PRISMA reporting principles to enhance transparency and reproducibility. Following sequential refinement by publication period, document type, language, and source type, 2662 Scopus-indexed publications from 2015 to January 2026 were analyzed using VOSviewer. The analysis examined temporal publication and citation trends, geographical research productivity and impact, co-authorship patterns, keyword co-occurrence networks, and bibliographic coupling. Annual publication output increased from 61 documents in 2015 to 417 in 2025, accompanied by substantial growth in citation activity, demonstrating the field's growing scientific visibility. China dominated research productivity, accounting for 62% of publications, and exhibited the highest total link strength (438), reflecting extensive international collaboration. Comparison of publication and citation distributions further revealed differences between research productivity and scholarly impact among leading countries. The thematic landscape demonstrated a progressive transition from adsorption-centered studies to multifunctional remediation systems incorporating photocatalysis, membrane separation, environmental sensing, selective contaminant removal, and integrated treatment strategies. The findings provide a quantitative perspective on the field’s temporal evolution, intellectual structure, geographical impact, collaboration networks, and emerging research directions, while highlighting opportunities for developing scalable and sustainable graphene-based environmental technologies.