Journal profile · Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Materials Research Bulletin
ISSN 0025-5408 · eISSN 1873-4227 · Elsevier Ltd · UNITED STATES · Monthly · Founded 1966
Materials Research Bulletin: CAS Zone 3 · Materials Science (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 5.76; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,610; review about 86 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); 598 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Materials Research Bulletin is published by Elsevier Ltd and is in Zone 3 of Materials Science in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Luminescence Properties of Advanced Materials, Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques and Ferroelectric and Piezoelectric Materials, together about 22.1% of its articles. Its main subfields are Materials Chemistry. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
An international journal reporting research on the synthesis, structure, and properties of materialsPlease note that we have moved submission system to Editorial Manager. If you plan to submit to Materials Research Bulletin, please click on the Submit your Paper link to be taken to the correct submission system. Please do not use saved/bookmarked links.Materials Research Bulletin is an international journal reporting high-impact research on processing-structure-property relationships in functional materials and nanomaterials with interesting electronic, magnetic, optical, thermal, mechanical or catalytic properties. Papers purely on thermodynamics or theoretical calculations (e.g., density functional theory) do not fall within the scope of the journal unless they also demonstrate a clear link to physical properties. Topics covered include functional materials (e.g., dielectrics, pyroelectrics, piezoelectrics, ferroelectrics, relaxors, thermoelectrics, etc.); electrochemistry and solid-state ionics (e.g., photovoltaics, batteries, sensors, and fuel cells); nanomaterials, graphene, and nanocomposites; luminescence and photocatalysis; crystal-structure and defect-structure analysis; novel electronics; non-crystalline solids; flexible electronics; protein-material interactions; and polymeric ion-exchange membranes.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Editor-in-chief Xiao-Jun WangPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 13 in mainland China (about 39%); most named Mainland China 13, United States 9, United Kingdom 4, Singapore 2, South Korea 1 (33 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Luminescence Properties of Advanced MaterialsMaterials Science8.2%
- Advanced Photocatalysis TechniquesEnergy7.2%
- Ferroelectric and Piezoelectric MaterialsMaterials Science6.7%
- Microwave Dielectric Ceramics SynthesisEngineering5.5%
- Gas Sensing Nanomaterials and SensorsEngineering5.2%
- Magnetic and transport properties of perovskites and related materialsMaterials Science4.2%
- Glass properties and applicationsMaterials Science4.2%
- Crystal Structures and PropertiesMaterials Science4.2%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Materials Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Materials Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Materials Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Materials Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Materials Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Materials Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
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
- 5.76LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 5.8Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 10.7LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 10.7Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.87LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.94LetPub ·
- h-index
- 96LetPub ·
- h-index
- 189OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 12,393OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 6.29OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 5.2%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 8.51%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 560LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 19,952 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 415 | 71 | 392 |
| 2025 | 598 | 81 | 3,205 |
| 2024 | 527 | 72 | 6,094 |
| 2023 | 431 | 45 | 7,563 |
| 2022 | 328 | 34 | 6,682 |
| 2021 | 432 | 42 | 11,285 |
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
86 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 4.1 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 4.1 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 88%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 4 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 31 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 86 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 3,610 / EUR 3,380 / GBP 2,890 / JPY 447,750 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,910 | — | — |
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 papers2, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Required
Article types accepted10, with length limits
- commentaryResearch PaperProvide a full length account of original research not already published.The paper must demonstrate a substantial advance in the understanding of …Length not stated
- correspondenceResearch PaperProvide a full length account of original research not already published.The paper must demonstrate a substantial advance in the understanding of …main text ≤ 300 words
- letterResearch PaperProvide a full length account of original research not already published.The paper must demonstrate a substantial advance in the understanding of …Length not stated
- letters to the editorResearch PaperProvide a full length account of original research not already published.The paper must demonstrate a substantial advance in the understanding of …Length not stated
- original researchResearch PaperProvide a full length account of original research not already published.The paper must demonstrate a substantial advance in the understanding of …Length not stated
- perspectiveResearch PaperProvide a full length account of original research not already published.The paper must demonstrate a substantial advance in the understanding of …main text ≤ 3,000 words
- research paperResearch PaperProvide a full length account of original research not already published.The paper must demonstrate a substantial advance in the understanding of …Length not stated
- reviewResearch PaperProvide a full length account of original research not already published.The paper must demonstrate a substantial advance in the understanding of …Length not stated
- review articleResearch PaperProvide a full length account of original research not already published.The paper must demonstrate a substantial advance in the understanding of …Length not stated
- short communicationResearch PaperProvide a full length account of original research not already published.The paper must demonstrate a substantial advance in the understanding of …Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, 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 ·- 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
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 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 one reviewer 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.Rea…
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 Ltd
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- Multi-Language
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1966
- ISSN
- 0025-5408
- Electronic ISSN
- 1873-4227
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Materials Research Bulletin
What CAS zone is Materials Research Bulletin in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Materials Research Bulletin is in Zone 3 of Materials Science, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Materials Science, Multidisciplinary. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Materials Science. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Materials Research Bulletin?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 5.76; CiteScore 10.7, h-index 189.
How long does peer review take at Materials Research Bulletin?
The publisher reports about 86 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 4.1 months. 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 Materials Research Bulletin?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: 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.
Where are the editorial board members of Materials Research Bulletin based?
Of the 33 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 13 (about 39%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (13), United States (9) and United Kingdom (4). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Materials Research Bulletin?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Materials Research Bulletin is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Materials Research Bulletin open access, and what is the APC?
Materials Research Bulletin is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,610.
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 2026-08-25). Last updated: .