Against the backdrop of the global pursuit of carbon neutrality, research on coal pore structure has shifted from a single focus on coal mine safety to a dual orientation of hazard prevention and carbon sequestration, forming two distinct research directions worldwide. To clarify the evolutionary trajectory, research heterogeneity and integration paths of this field, this study systematically analyzes 722 core publications on coal pore structure from the CNKI and Web of Science core databases during 2015–2025, combining knowledge visualization analysis and systematic literature sorting (using CiteSpace as an auxiliary analysis tool). The results show that global research on coal pore structure has experienced three developmental stages (embryonic, developmental, and explosive growth) and entered an exponential growth phase after 2020, driven by the dual carbon goals. A clear research divergence has formed between regional engineering practices and international theoretical models: Chinese research is highly oriented to on-site coal mine engineering needs, focusing on the characterization of coal pore structure and its engineering application in gas extraction and outburst prevention of structural coal; international research prioritizes the theoretical exploration of carbon sequestration and CO2-ECBM, with core research on gas adsorption kinetics, multiphysics coupling mechanisms of coal pore structure, and numerical simulation of reservoir modification. This research disconnect between engineering practice and theoretical modeling has become a key bottleneck restricting the safe application of coal pore structure theory in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects. To address this issue, a Safety–Sustainability Nexus framework is proposed, which integrates field-based mine safety protocols with theoretical carbon storage models, and realizes cross-scale validation from micro-scale pore characterization to field-scale engineering application. Further, this study points out that the cross-scale data fusion of artificial intelligence and machine learning is the core direction to bridge the gap between engineering practice and theoretical models. In future CO2-ECBM pilot projects, traditional gas outburst prevention indicators must be taken as mandatory safety thresholds to realize the dynamic matching of carbon injection parameters and coal reservoir stress sensitivity. This study sorts out the global research context and hotspots of coal pore structure, and provides a theoretical and practical reference for the synergy and integration of coal mine gas control engineering and carbon sequestration theoretical research under the dual carbon goals. CBM, coalbed methane; CNKI, China National Knowledge Infrastructure; WOS, Web of Science; CCUS, carbon capture, utilization, and storage; ECBM, Enhanced Coalbed Methane; CO2-ECBM, CO2-Enhanced Coalbed Methane.
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