Niobium

Niobium (Nb) — 10-Year Trends

As of 2026-09-25 · the last 10 years

Niobium’s research intensity stands at about 81% of its own all-time peak, a level that has drifted downward from 97% at the start of this decade, though the element’s all-time high was set in 1974, well before this window.

Research intensity ran from about 97% of the element's own all-time peak in 2016 to about 81% in 2026 — a net decline with recoveries along the way, and the all-time peak (1974) lies before this window. Over the same span its share of research attention across all elements fell. Among the 118 elements, niobium has a mid-sized research literature.

The number of papers involving the element rose from about 4,868 in 2016 to about 10,709 in 2025 (2.2x). 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 research community is Lithium Niobate Waveguides and Nonlinear Photonics, where niobium forms the host lattice for thin films used in waveguides, modulators, and harmonic generation. Here, niobium is one strand of a broader community, with about 15% of its papers involving the element. This community holds about 34% of niobium’s recent research, a share that has risen from 26% in the previous period. Key work includes a 2021 review on integrated photonics on thin-film lithium niobate, cited over 1,400 times, and a 2023 Science paper on unlocking the electromagnetic spectrum, cited over 670 times.

A second major area is Niobium Superconducting Magnets and Thin Film Fabrication, focusing on NbTi and Nb3Sn superconducting wires and resonator applications. Niobium is again one strand of a broader community, appearing in about 16% of those papers. This community accounts for about 11% of niobium’s recent research, a share that has remained steady. Notable contributions include a 2022 paper on transmon qubits with lifetimes approaching 0.5 milliseconds, cited over 380 times.

The third material community is Niobium Microalloying in High-Strength Low-Alloy Steels, examining how niobium additions refine microstructure to enhance mechanical properties. Niobium is a minor presence here, involved in only about 3% of the community’s papers. It represents about 9% of niobium’s recent research, a share that has held steady. A 2020 Science paper on hydrogen trapping at dislocations, cited over 630 times, anchors this field.

Overall, the composition of niobium research has shifted toward photonics, which gained share, while superconducting and steel applications held steady. The remainder of the research, comprising other smaller communities, has seen a slight decline in share. For a deeper look at the element’s current standing, see the Last 12 Months and Executive Brief reports.