Global Patterns and Evolution of Lithium Battery Carbon Emission Research from a Bibliometric Perspective

This study employed bibliometric methods to analyze the global research patterns and evolutionary pathways in lithium battery carbon emissions from the Web of Science Core Collection database spanning 2008 to 2025. With the rise of the global electric vehicle market and the advancement of carbon neutrality policies, this field has evolved from a peripheral topic to a core energy‑environment topic. Using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and RStudio, the research examines publication trends, national and regional collaboration, keyword co‑occurrence, thematic evolution, and core journals and institutions. The main findings indicate that annual publication volume exhibits a three-phase growth trajectory: Initial Germination Period (2008–2014), Steady Growth Period (2015–2019), and Explosive Growth Period (2020–2025). This progression appears closely linked to electric vehicle adoption and rising demand for battery recycling. The landscape is dominated by China and the U.S., with China leading in publication volume and the United States exerting greater influence on research impact. Europe and Asia-Pacific contribute through diversified international collaboration. Research themes coalesce around a Technology–Environment–Circulation ternary framework, with core keywords including “lithium-ion battery,” “life cycle assessment,” and “recycling.” The field has progressed from technological optimization to environmental assessment and circular economy considerations, and more recently shift toward digital governance. Journal analysis reveals pronounced interdisciplinary characteristics, with publications spanning energy, environmental, and multidisciplinary fields. These findings provide a statistical foundation for understanding the dynamic evolution of this field. Future research should emphasize multidisciplinary integration, policy coordination, and systematic evaluation of battery recycling technologies to inform international collaboration and sustainable development policy.