Exploring the nexus between eutectic phase change materials and sustainable thermal energy storage using bibliometrics

• Research domain with 742 publications and a significant yearly increase in output. • China contributed majority of published articles (329) and 11431 citations. • Elsevier is the most significant publisher in the domain. • Research in eutectic PCM holds significant potential towards attainment of SDG 7. Carbon footprint reduction and energy conservation can be accomplished by recycling low-grade and ultra-low-grade thermal energy. A comprehensive analytical analysis of the current state of research on the role of eutectic PCMs (EPCMs) in TES is performed in this study through a screening of 742 articles. This analysis also identifies critical research gaps in the field. The analytical analysis reveals a significant surge in articles on EPCM’s role in TES, particularly after 2018. Counting the number of publications, China, India, and Turkey are the top-ranked countries actively engaged in this research domain. South China University of Technology (China) and Karadeniz Technical University (Turkey) are renowned universities actively involved in research and publications in this area. China’s National Natural Science Foundation mainly supports research in this field. Among authors, Ahmet Sari from Karadeniz Technical University, Turkey, acquires the maximum citations (3463) in this domain (35 publications). Sustainable thermal energy storage prospects are bright due to developments in eutectic phase change materials and the ongoing refinement of nanomaterials. In addition, this analysis can assist aspiring researchers and policymakers focusing on sustainable thermal energy by providing an in-depth overview and crucial insights into the current research field, along with the most recent developments.