Leydesdorff L. Zhou P. "Nanotechnology as a field of science: Its delineation in terms of journals and patents" Scientometrics 70(3): 693-713, March 2007.

[Eugene Garfield]

E-mail Addresses: loet at leydesdorff.net 

TITLE:          Nanotechnology as a field of science: Its delineation in
                terms of journals and patents (Article, English)

AUTHOR:         Leydesdorff, L; Zhou, P

SOURCE:         SCIENTOMETRICS 70 (3). MAR 2007. p.693-713 SPRINGER,
                DORDRECHT

ABSTRACT:       The Journal Citation Reports of the Science Citation
Index 2004 were used to delineate a core set of nanotechnology journals and 
a nanotechnology-relevant set. In comparison with 2003, the core set has 
grown and the relevant set has decreased. This suggests a higher degree of 
codification in the field of nanotechnology: the field has become more 
focused in terms of citation practices. Using the citing patterns among 
journals at the aggregate level, a core group of ten nanotechnology 
journals in the vector space can be delineated on the criterion of 
betweenness centrality. National contributions to this core group of 
journals are evaluated for the years 2003, 2004, and 2005.
Additionally, the specific class of nanotechnology patents in the database 
of the U. S. Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) is analyzed to determine if 
non-patent literature references can be used as a source for the 
delineation of the knowledge base in terms of scientific journals.
The references are primarily to general science journals and letters, and 
therefore not specific enough for the purpose of delineating a journal set.

AUTHOR ADDRESS: L Leydesdorff, Univ Amsterdam, Amsterdam Sch Commun Res,
                Kloveniersburgwal 48, NL-1012 CX Amsterdam, Netherlands