Iridium

Iridium (Ir) — 10-Year Trends

As of 2026-09-11 · the last 10 years

Iridium’s research intensity has climbed steadily to reach 100% of its all-time peak in 2026, a record high that falls within this decade.

Research intensity ran from about 87% of the element's own all-time peak in 2016 to about 100% in 2026 — a steady climb, and the all-time peak (2026) falls inside this window. Over the same span its share of research attention across all elements rose. Among the 118 elements, iridium has a mid-sized research literature.

The number of papers involving the element rose from about 4,197 in 2016 to about 9,304 in 2025 (2.22x). 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 dominant area of iridium research is Iridium Oxide Catalysts for Acidic Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolysis. These papers focus on iridium oxide and nanoparticles as oxygen evolution catalysts in acidic media, specifically for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers, with distinctive work on acidic water and PEM water systems. Iridium is a minor presence in a much larger community—about 7% of its papers involve iridium. This community accounts for about 24% of the element's recent research, a rising share from 14% in the previous period. A key anchor is a 2022 paper in Nature Materials on non-iridium-based electrocatalysts for durable acidic oxygen evolution, cited over 980 times, alongside a 2025 Science study on tantalum-stabilized ruthenium oxide electrocatalysts, cited over 470 times.

A second major area is Iridium Phosphorescent Emission in Organic Light-Emitting Diodes. Here, researchers design cyclometalated and cationic iridium complexes for efficient phosphorescent light-emitting diodes, distinct from photodynamic cancer therapy. Iridium is a minor presence in a much larger community—about 9% of its papers involve iridium. This community holds about 23% of the element's recent research, though its share is declining from 30% in the earlier period. Notable work includes a 2022 Chemical Reviews article on luminescent complexes of platinum, iridium, and coinage metals, cited over 230 times, and a 2025 Journal of the American Chemical Society paper on near-infrared aggregation-induced emission, cited about 74 times.

Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Substitution constitutes another significant strand. These papers focus on iridium complexes driving enantioselective allylic alkylation and substitution, distinct from broader cross-coupling. Iridium is a minor presence in a much larger community—about 4% of its papers involve iridium. It accounts for about 14% of the element's recent research, a steady share compared to 17% previously. A 2021 Chemical Society Reviews paper on visible light-activated radical coupling reactions, cited over 510 times, anchors this area.

Finally, Iridium Pincer Catalysts for Asymmetric Hydrogenation involves iridium pincer complexes in asymmetric hydrogenation and hydrogen isotope exchange. Iridium is one strand of a broader community—about 21% of its papers involve iridium. This community represents about 10% of the element's recent research, declining from 16% in the first period. A 2023 Accounts of Chemical Research paper on asymmetric hydrogenation catalyzed by iridium complexes, cited over 120 times, is a key reference.

Overall, the literature is consolidating around electrocatalysis for water splitting, which is gaining share, while phosphorescent emission and hydrogenation catalysts are losing relative share. Other research communities hold a steady 28% of the element's work.

For a deeper look at iridium’s current standing, see the Last 12 Months and Executive Brief reports.