Journal profile · Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Journal of Nuclear Materials
ISSN 0022-3115 · eISSN 1873-4820 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDS · Semimonthly · Founded 1959
Journal of Nuclear Materials: CAS Zone 2 · Engineering (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.26; hybrid open access; APC about USD 2,640; review about 111 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: easy (Elsevier website: 56%); 699 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Nuclear Materials is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 2 of Engineering in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Nuclear Materials and Properties, Fusion materials and technologies and Nuclear reactor physics and engineering, together about 52.6% of its articles. Its main subfields are Materials Chemistry. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Journal of Nuclear Materials publishes high quality papers in materials research for nuclear applications, primarily fission reactors, fusion reactors, and similar environments including radiation areas of charged particle accelerators. Both original research and critical review papers covering experimental, theoretical, and computational aspects of either fundamental or applied nature are welcome.Papers submitted to JNM should exhibit a high degree of novelty and contain a significant discussion section that analyzes and interprets the results with outcomes that advance our understanding and push the field forward. Incremental research papers are not acceptable.The breadth of the field is such that a wide range of processes and properties in the field of materials science and engineering is of interest to the readership, spanning atom-scale processes, microstructures, thermodynamics, mechanical properties, physical properties, and corrosion, for example.Topics covered by JNM Fission reactor materials, including fuels, cladding, core structures, pressure vessels, coolant interactions with materials, moderator and control components, fission product behavior.Materials aspects of the entire fuel cycle.Materials aspects of the actinides and their compounds.Performance of nuclear waste materials; materials aspects of the immobilization of wastes.Fusion reactor materials, including first walls, blankets, insulators and magnets.Neutron and charged particle radiation effects in materials, including defects, transmutations, microstructures, phase changes and macroscopic properties.Interaction of plasmas, ion beams, electron beams and electromagnetic radiation with materials relevant to nuclear systems.Topics NOT covered by JNMTopics in nuclear engineering and other areas not addressing materials, such as:Particle transport, cross-sections, shielding or isotope ratios (Radiation Physics and Chemistry; Annals of Nuclear Energy, Applied Radiation and Isotopes)Process engineering (Materials Science and Engineering A; Materials and Design)Leaching or chemical kinetics studies in aqueous, salt or other media (Hydrometallurgy; Chemical Engineering Science)Thermal hydraulics or properties of fluids (Nuclear Engineering and Design)Uranium extraction, uranium ore processing, and isotope separation processes (Nuclear Engineering and Design; Progress in Nuclear Energy)Fission or fusion reactor design and technology (Nuclear Engineering and Design; Fusion Engineering & Design)Plasma physics (Physics Letters A)Materials topics not addressing nuclear applications, such as general studies in:Physical and chemical properties including modeling and simulation (Materials Science and Engineering A; Materials Letters)Metallurgy (Journal of Alloys and Compounds; Materials Science and Engineering A)Corrosion (Corrosion Science)Welding and joining (Journal of Alloys and Compounds; Materials and Design)Ceramics (Journal of the European Ceramics Society; Ceramics international)
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Editor-in-chief Gary WasPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 3 in mainland China (about 6%); most named United States 20, France 8, Japan 6, United Kingdom 4, Mainland China 3 (54 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Nuclear Materials and PropertiesMaterials Science23.9%
- Fusion materials and technologiesMaterials Science20.5%
- Nuclear reactor physics and engineeringEngineering8.2%
- Nuclear materials and radiation effectsMaterials Science4.9%
- Radioactive element chemistry and processingChemistry4.8%
- Magnetic confinement fusion researchPhysics and Astronomy4.6%
- Ion-surface interactions and analysisEngineering4.1%
- Hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion behaviors in metalsMaterials Science3.1%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Engineering Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Nuclear Science & Technology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Engineering Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Nuclear Science & Technology | Zone 1 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Engineering Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Nuclear Science & Technology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
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
- 3.26LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 3.3Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 5.9LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 5.9Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.88LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.45LetPub ·
- h-index
- 123LetPub ·
- h-index
- 219OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 19,419OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.17OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 21.2%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 19.03%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 648LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 33,816 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 604 | 185 | 207 |
| 2025 | 699 | 202 | 1,923 |
| 2024 | 602 | 243 | 3,909 |
| 2023 | 546 | 276 | 5,819 |
| 2022 | 594 | 286 | 8,287 |
| 2021 | 630 | 312 | 10,959 |
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
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
111 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 2 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 2 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 56%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 5 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 48 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 111 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 1 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single 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 2,640 / EUR 2,470 / GBP 2,110 / JPY 327,440 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 2,880 | — | — |
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
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Templates
- LaTeX and Word
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
Article types accepted4, with length limits
- critical reviewsThe Journal of Nuclear Materials publishes: Original research papers Critical reviews Short communicationsLength not stated
- original research paperJournal of Nuclear Materials publishes: Original research papers Critical reviews Short communications Short communications are limited to 3000 words and are no…main text ≤ 3,000 words
- original research papersThe Journal of Nuclear Materials publishes: Original research papers Critical reviews Short communicationsLength not stated
- short communicationsThe Journal of Nuclear Materials publishes: Original research papers Critical reviews Short communicationsLength not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability
Elsevier takes a neutral position on territorial disputes or jurisdictional claims. Model summary
Elsevier respects the decisions taken by its authors as to how they choose to designate territories and identify their affiliations in their published content.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Authors must follow Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy. Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
Open access options available; see open access information page. Model summary
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process; submissions initially assessed by editors; suitable submissions sent to a minimum of two reviewers; editors make the decision. Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
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
- Elsevier
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- Multi-Language
- Frequency
- Semimonthly
- Founded
- 1959
- ISSN
- 0022-3115
- Electronic ISSN
- 1873-4820
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Nuclear Materials
What CAS zone is Journal of Nuclear Materials in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Nuclear Materials is in Zone 2 of Engineering, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Nuclear Science & Technology / Materials Science, Multidisciplinary. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Engineering. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Nuclear Materials?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.26; CiteScore 5.9, h-index 219.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Nuclear Materials?
The publisher reports about 111 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 2 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy (Elsevier website: 56%)”. 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 Nuclear Materials?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Templates: LaTeX and Word; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: Optional. 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.
Where are the editorial board members of Journal of Nuclear Materials based?
Of the 54 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 3 (about 6%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (20), France (8) and Japan (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Nuclear Materials?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Nuclear Materials is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Journal of Nuclear Materials open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Nuclear Materials is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 2,640.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; 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 2026-08-30). Last updated: .