E-fuels in a Circular Carbon Economy: Insights from Thematic Mapping and Multiple Correspondence Analysis
M.N. Mazlee, H. Zunairah
Abstract. Global momentum toward achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions has brought electrofuels (e-fuels) to the forefront as practical substitutes for conventional fossil fuels, particularly in sectors where electrification faces major limitations, including aviation, maritime, and heavy industry. Within the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE), e-fuels are generated from renewable hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide (CO₂), offering compatibility with existing fuel systems while enabling large-scale decarbonization. This study employs a bibliometric framework combining annual scientific production, thematic mapping, and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) to examine the trajectory of e-fuel research from 1984 to 2024. Findings reveal a pronounced increase in publications after 2015, reflecting both rapid technological advances and the influence of international climate policies. Thematic mapping identifies motor themes such as e-fuels, hydrogen, biofuels, and power-to-X, supported by foundational concepts including renewable energy and sustainable economy. Technical niches such as kinetic modelling remain central to process optimization, while emerging themes like NOx reduction highlight evolving environmental concerns. MCA results reinforce a dual research pathway in which one emphasizing technological depth in combustion and electrolysis, and the other focusing on systemic integration through sector coupling and life-cycle assessment. Together, these findings demonstrate that e-fuel research has expanded from fragmented technological explorations into a multidisciplinary field. Positioned at the intersection of engineering, environmental science, and policy, e-fuels are increasingly recognized as pivotal to net-zero strategies, though cost, scalability, and regulatory alignment remain critical challenges for future deployment.
Keywords
E-Fuels, Circular Carbon Economy, Hydrogen Based-Synthesis, Thematic Mapping, Multiple Correspondence Analysis
Published online 1/15/2026, 10 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: M.N. Mazlee, H. Zunairah, E-fuels in a Circular Carbon Economy: Insights from Thematic Mapping and Multiple Correspondence Analysis, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 60, pp 83-92, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903971-12
The article was published as article 12 of the book Frontiers of Chemical and Materials Engineering
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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