Lead

Lead (Pb) — 10-Year Trends

As of 2026-09-25 · the last 10 years

Lead’s research intensity stands at about 89% of its own all-time peak, a level reached during this window in 2021.

Research intensity ran from about 93% of the element's own all-time peak in 2016 to about 89% in 2026 — a rise to a mid-window peak followed by a fall back, and the all-time peak (2021) falls inside this window. Over the same span its share of research attention across all elements held steady. Among the 118 elements, lead has a larger-than-average research literature.

The number of papers involving the element rose from about 537,165 in 2016 to about 1,341,994 in 2025 (2.5x). 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 literature is anchored by three distinct research communities, each representing a different facet of lead’s scientific role. The largest is Lead in Iodide Perovskite Solar Cell Architecture, where lead serves as the primary cation in iodide perovskite absorbers, with research focused on thin-film stability, transport layers, and lead-free alternatives. Lead is one strand of a broader community, with about 24% of its papers involving lead. This group holds about 25% of the element's recent research, a share that has remained steady. Key work here includes a 2017 Science paper on iodide management in formamidinium-lead-halide–based perovskite layers, cited over 5,400 times, and a 2024 Science study on improved charge extraction in inverted perovskite solar cells, cited over 1,300 times.

The second major community is Lead Poisoning and Toxicity in Experimental Models, which focuses on lead poisoning, blood lead levels, and toxicity mechanisms in animal models. Lead is one strand of a broader community, with about 11% of its papers involving lead. This area accounts for about 10% of the element's recent research, also holding steady. Significant contributions include a 2020 Lancet analysis of the global burden of 87 risk factors, cited over 9,900 times, and a 2024 Archives of Toxicology review on heavy metals and human health effects, cited over 950 times.

The third community is Lead Zirconate Titanate Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting, centered on PZT thin films and ceramics for piezoelectric energy harvesting, alongside lead-free alternatives. Lead is one strand of a broader community, with about 17% of its papers involving lead. This group represents about 8.5% of the element's recent research, with a steady share. Notable work includes a 2021 Chemical Reviews paper on electroceramics for high-energy density capacitors, cited over 1,300 times, and a 2024 Science study on ultrahigh energy storage in high-entropy ceramic capacitors, cited over 440 times.

Overall, the composition of lead research has remained stable, with the three named communities holding steady shares while the remainder of the literature, comprising about 56.5% of recent work, also shows no significant directional shift.

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