Advances in Magnetic Thin Films for Spintronic Devices: A Bibliometric and Thematic Analysis

Abstract

This bibliometric analysis examines research trends in magnetic thin films for spintronic applications from 2001 to 2025, based on 562 documents retrieved from the Web of Science. Our analysis reveals that three key themes dominate the field: magnetoresistance (56 occurrences), magnetic properties (55 occurrences), and thin films (55 occurrences). Research focus has evolved from fundamental studies on giant magnetoresistance and tunnel junctions (2005-2012) to practical applications involving room-temperature ferromagnetism and epitaxial growth (2012-2017), and finally to advanced topics such as anisotropy, spin dynamics, and ferromagnetic resonance (2018-2023). Citation analysis identifies the USA (4151 citations), China (2300 citations), and Japan (1512 citations) as the geographical leaders. At the same time, Nanjing University (71 articles), University of Tokyo (55 articles), and Fudan University (42 articles) are the most productive institutions. Emerging research areas include 2D materials (e.g., graphene and MoS?) and room-temperature spintronic functionality, which have seen a 65% increase in publications since 2018. This analysis provides a quantitative foundation for advancing spintronic technologies through targeted interdisciplinary approaches.