Iron

Iron (Fe) — 10-Year Trends

As of 2026-09-25 · the last 10 years

Iron’s research intensity stands at about 52% of its all-time peak, a level that has steadily declined since the window began in 2016.

Research intensity ran from about 59% of the element's own all-time peak in 2016 to about 52% in 2026 — a steady decline, and the all-time peak (1971) lies before this window. Over the same span its share of research attention across all elements fell. Among the 118 elements, iron has one of the largest research literatures of any element.

The number of papers involving the element rose from about 110,382 in 2016 to about 246,361 in 2025 (2.23x). That matches the growth of the literature as a whole over the same years: the general tide of scientific output, not a surge specific to the element.

The largest material community is Iron Deficiency Anemia Treatment in Pregnancy, which accounts for about 14.5% of the element's recent research. This community focuses on oral and intravenous iron therapies for managing anemia in pregnant women and other clinical patients, with distinctive work on iron sucrose and treatment protocols. Iron is one strand of a broader community, with about 27% of its papers involving iron. Its share has remained steady over the last five years. A key paper here is the 2017 Global Burden of Disease Study analysis in The Lancet, cited over 13,000 times, which established the global scale of these conditions.

Iron Ore Processing and Steelmaking Reduction represents about 9.4% of recent research, a steady presence. This community addresses the metallurgical reduction of iron ores, sintering, and direct reduction processes for steel production, often involving low-carbon production methods. Iron is one strand of a broader community, with about 12% of its papers involving iron. A notable recent contribution is the 2024 work on global iron and steel plant CO2 emissions and carbon-neutrality pathways in Nature, cited over 370 times.

Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Magnetic Hyperthermia and Drug Delivery holds about 5.9% of the element's research share, also steady. This group synthesizes magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for targeted cancer therapy, specifically using magnetic hyperthermia and drug delivery mechanisms. Iron is one strand of a broader community, with about 10% of its papers involving iron. A significant 2021 review in Applied Sciences on Fe3O4 nanoparticles, cited over 760 times, highlights the structural and magnetic properties central to this field.

The composition of iron research has remained stable, with the three named communities holding steady shares while the remaining 70.1% of research—spanning other applications—also shows no significant drift. For a deeper look at the current state of iron research, consult the element's Last 12 Months report or Executive Brief.