Mapping research trends in plant-based green corrosion inhibitors: a bibliometric analysis (2020–2025)

The increasing concerns relating to environmental and health problem from conventional corrosion inhibitors have focused on plant-based green alternatives. This study uses bibliometric analysis on plant-based corrosion inhibitors between 2020 to 2025 using the data from the Scopus database. The analysis shows the increasing of publication, with a peak observed in 2024, reflecting the expanding global interest in sustainable approaches to corrosion protections. China and India are the leading contributors to the field due to strong industrial demand and national sustainability initiatives, while Ramezanzadeh, B., and Guo, L., are the most prolific authors that make a considerable impact on the research landscape. The subject area dominated by Chemistry and Materials Science and also including engineering and environmental sciences. Keyword cooccurrence analysis has revealed that the subject of research mainly concerns inhibition performance, with special attention to plant extracts, electrochemical evaluation techniques, and acidic environments such as hydrochloric acid medium. The growing integration of computational modelling and theoretical approaches implies a move towards mechanism-based and predictive studies. These findings demonstrate that research on plant-based corrosion inhibitors is growing toward more sustainable, application-oriented, and interdisciplinary approaches. Thus, the bibliometric analysis provides valuable guidance for researchers and industry stakeholders in identifying emerging trends, optimizing inhibitor selection, and advancing the development of environmentally friendly corrosion protection technologies.