Journal profile · Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Journal of Cluster Science
ISSN 1040-7278 · eISSN 1572-8862 · Springer US · UNITED STATES · Quarterly · Founded 1990
Journal of Cluster Science: CAS Zone 4 · Chemistry (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 4.07; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,990; median 99 days to acceptance (43 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: easy; 212 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Cluster Science is published by Springer US and is in Zone 4 of Chemistry in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Metal-Organic Frameworks: Synthesis and Applications, Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications and Organometallic Complex Synthesis and Catalysis, together about 27.5% of its articles. Its main subfields are Materials Chemistry. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The journal publishes the following types of papers: (a) original and important research; (b) authoritative comprehensive reviews or short overviews of topics of current interest; (c) brief but urgent communications on new significant research; and (d) commentaries intended to foster the exchange of innovative or provocative ideas, and to encourage dialogue, amongst researchers working in different cluster disciplines. In order to submit your manuscript to JCS you will be asked to choose the handling editor for your manuscript, therefore, please read the "Meet the Editors" 1. Cluster Chemistry and Nanomaterials including main-group clusters, metal clusters, carbon- or silicon-based clusters, synthesis of molecular clusters, novel synthetic techniques for cluster growth and novel experimental techniques for cluster reactions, as well as structure determination, bonding analysis, chemical and physical properties of clusters (such as stoichiometric or catalytic reactivity, and dynamic processes). Other topics include clustering of atoms and molecules (); and self-assembly of clusters and nanoparticles (). Cluster materials may include nanomaterials, nanoparticles (), catalysts (), nanocomposites (), 1-D, 2-D, or 3-D arrays of nanomaterials, cluster-assembled hierarchical nanomaterials, cluster-based quasicrystals and intermetallic phases, and cluster-based sensors and detectors. 2. Cluster Biology and Life Sciences includes molecular biology of clusters, cluster cell biology, cluster biochemistry, formation and transport of clusters in biology, biomimetics, genetic clusters, dendrograms, cladograms, structures of viruses, sequence analysis, genome annotation, cancer clusters, cluster-based biosensors, detectors, and diagnostics. 3. Articles related to cluster-based energy production (renewable, solar, fossil, biomass, etc.), conversion, storage, or transport and to the use of clusters in environmental sciences are also welcome. 4. New instrumentation or novel experimental techniques for cluster research
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Editor-in-chief Boon K. TeoPublisher website
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Metal-Organic Frameworks: Synthesis and ApplicationsChemistry10.7%
- Nanoparticles: synthesis and applicationsMaterials Science9.2%
- Organometallic Complex Synthesis and CatalysisChemistry7.6%
- Polyoxometalates: Synthesis and ApplicationsMaterials Science7%
- Magnetism in coordination complexesMaterials Science5.6%
- Advanced Nanomaterials in CatalysisMaterials Science5.5%
- Nanocluster Synthesis and ApplicationsMaterials Science5.5%
- Inorganic Chemistry and MaterialsChemistry5%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Chemistry Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Chemistry | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Chemistry Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Chemistry | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Chemistry Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Chemistry | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
CASCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS, Semantic Scholar
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 4.07LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 4.1Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3.5Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 7.6LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.55LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.69LetPub ·
- h-index
- 39LetPub ·
- h-index
- 79OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,547OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 4.64OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 2.4%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 8.82%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 210LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 325,100Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 3,594 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 150 | 25 | 74 |
| 2025 | 212 | 27 | 1,022 |
| 2024 | 219 | 55 | 1,598 |
| 2023 | 126 | 17 | 1,611 |
| 2022 | 186 | 17 | 2,766 |
| 2021 | 260 | 13 | 4,136 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
99 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 60 days – 154 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 28 days (43 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 142 days
- Sample
- 43 articles with submission and acceptance dates (64 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- 6–12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 11 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,990 / EUR 2,990 / GBP 2,590 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
- Superatomic Clusters: Part IIIDeadline
What to prepare10 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 10,000 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Templates
- LaTeX and Word
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Highlights
- Optional
- Graphical abstract
- Required
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted1, with length limits
- review articleReviews are usually solicited by the Editors, and it is strongly suggested that the Editor-in-Chief be contacted before such an article is submitted. Reviews sh…main text ≤ 200 words · abstract ≤ 200 words
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- AI use AI use in peer review
Peer reviewers are accountable for the accuracy and views expressed in their reports. As per our policy [https://www.springernature.com/gp/policies/editorial-policies] please do not upload manuscripts into generative AI tools. If any part of your evaluation of the claims made in the manuscript was in any way supported by an AI tool, we ask you to declare the use of such tools transparently in the …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Conflict of interest
All benefits in any form from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this manuscript or any of the authors must be acknowledged. For each source of funds, both the research funder and the grant number should be given. This note should be added in a separate section before the reference list. If no conflict exists, authors should state: The authors declare that they hav…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
All original research must include a data availability statement explaining how to access supporting data, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets; if data cannot be shared publicly, the statement should describe how data can be accessed and any conditions for reuse. Model summary
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Journal of Cluster Science, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review AI use in peer review
Peer reviewers are accountable for the accuracy and views expressed in their reports. As per our policy [https://www.springernature.com/gp/policies/editorial-policies] please do not upload manuscripts into generative AI tools. If any part of your evaluation of the claims made in the manuscript was in any way supported by an AI tool, we ask you to declare the use of such tools transparently in the …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer US
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 1990
- ISSN
- 1040-7278
- Electronic ISSN
- 1572-8862
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Cluster Science
What CAS zone is Journal of Cluster Science in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Cluster Science is in Zone 4 of Chemistry, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Chemistry. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Cluster Science?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 4.07; CiteScore 7.6, h-index 79.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Cluster Science?
Based on the dates recorded on 43 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 99 days (interquartile range 60–154 days); authors report an average review time of 6–12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Journal of Cluster Science?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Manuscript length: ≤ 10,000 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Templates: LaTeX and Word; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Highlights: Optional; Graphical abstract: Required; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Which databases index Journal of Cluster Science?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Cluster Science is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists CAS and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Journal of Cluster Science open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Cluster Science is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,990.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .