Analyzing the contribution of material science in quantum cryptography: A scientometric study

Abstract

Quantum cryptography (QC) provides security to information through laws of nature, particularly quantum mechanics. The necessity of making QC a living reality has provided the impetus to advancement in material science, which led to many publications since 1996. Therefore, in this work, we analyze the articles in the Scopus database concerning the contribution of material science in the development of QC through scientometric methods. A total of 1395 articles published from 1996 to 2022 were retrieved from the Scopus database. Subsequently, these articles were analyzed to retrieve publication patterns, major collaborating nations, significant documents, recent trends, and future directions. A comprehensive introduction to QC is also included to facilitate a better grasp of this field for a wide range of readers. The findings of this study show that China is the leading nation in developing QC through material science, closely followed by the United States and India. Moreover, the study indicates significant areas of QC where extensive work is being done from the material science standpoint through keyword and significant document analysis. Hence, the outcomes of this article can be valuable for researchers, newcomers, technology managers, and policymakers interested in the future of QC.