Horizon Scanning and Research Frontier Detection of Nuclear Power Technologies

Nuclear power technology plays a vital role in the global low-carbon energy transition. Horizon scanning and research frontier detection of nuclear power technology help accurately grasp the development trend, thereby optimizing its strategic layout. However, the quantitative studies on the development trend of nuclear power technology over the last decade are limited. A data-driven, integrated framework for quantitative evaluation is proposed in the study, integrating descriptive statistics, co-word analysis, network analysis, and coupling analysis to reveal research advances, the conceptual structure, international cooperation, the research frontier, and the research evolution of nuclear power technology. The results indicate a slow growth trend in research on nuclear power technology. The research’s conceptual structure is primarily focused on radioactivity from nuclear power accidents. Germany and the United States are the most important in the international cooperation network (with Degree Centrality of 0.675 and 0.663, respectively). Furthermore, seven research frontiers in global nuclear power technology are identified, with a focus on radioactivity related to nuclear power plant accidents. In addition, the research evolution findings suggest that we should strengthen frontier exploration in the fields of ocean diffusion of radionuclides (ODR), migration of nuclear contamination (MNC), and radioactivity control and immobilization (RCI).