Journal profile · Materials Science-General Materials Science
Materials Today Communications
ISSN 2352-4928 · Elsevier BV · Netherlands
Materials Today Communications: CAS Zone 3 · Materials Science (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 4.81; hybrid open access; APC about USD 2,830; review about 75 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); 3,127 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Materials Today Communications is published by Elsevier BV 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 Aluminum Alloys Composites Properties, High Entropy Alloys Studies and Additive Manufacturing Materials and Processes, together about 20.3% of its articles. Its main subfields are Mechanical Engineering. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Materials Today Communications is a broad scope, multi-disciplinary, rapid-publication journal focused on sound science.Materials are an essential component of every industry and underpin the technologies used in daily life. Materials science is an ever-expanding and evolving multi-disciplinary field, encompassing aspects of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering and mathematics. Materials Today Communications is interested in papers that focus on understanding the structure-property relationship for materials, utilizing characterization methods across different length scales to understand the effect of nano-, micro- and macro-structure on mechanical, electronic and chemical properties, and applying new and existing techniques to manufacture materials with properties and applications capable of meeting the challenges society faces now and in the future.Materials Today Communications covers all aspects of materials science, publishing sound science articles on materials research. Our 'sound science' approach means we do not filter submissions based on their topic area, but on the quality of the individual manuscript.Part of the Materials Today family, Materials Today Communications offers authors rigorous peer review, rapid decisions, and high visibility. The editors welcome comprehensive articles, short communications and reviews on topics including but not limited to:Bioengineering and biomedicineBiomaterialsBuilding materialsCatalysisCompositesComputational materials scienceCeramics and glassesEnergy MaterialsEngineering applicationsMaterials characterizationMaterials Today Communications covers all aspects of materials science, publishing sound science articles on materials research. Manuscripts are not filtered based on the perceived novelty or impact of the subject area; instead, they are evaluated on the scientific validity and technical soundness of the work. A manuscript will be considered for publication if it: presents a clearly defined research question or objective, uses appropriate and well-described methodology, reports results that are supported by the data presented, draws conclusions that are justified by the results. Editors and reviewers assess whether the science is technically correct and reproducible and of benefit to the research community, not whether the findings represent a major advance. Our 'sound science' approach means we do not filter submissions based on their topic area, but on the quality of the individual manuscript.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Materials Science-General Materials Science
Editor-in-chief Tomas L MartinPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 29 in mainland China (about 15%); most named Mainland China 29, United Kingdom 25, United States 23, Italy 11, India 10 (191 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Aluminum Alloys Composites PropertiesEngineering8.2%
- High Entropy Alloys StudiesEngineering6.1%
- Additive Manufacturing Materials and ProcessesEngineering5.9%
- Aluminum Alloy Microstructure PropertiesEngineering5.2%
- Metal and Thin Film MechanicsEngineering5.1%
- Advanced materials and compositesEngineering5%
- Microstructure and mechanical propertiesMaterials Science4.8%
- Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing TechnologiesEngineering4.1%
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
- 4.81LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 4.9Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 7.3LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 7.3Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.78LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.02LetPub ·
- h-index
- 93OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 5,619OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 4.46OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 6.1%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 9.34%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 3,039LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 16,218 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,639 | 1,634 | 763 |
| 2025 | 3,127 | 538 | 9,670 |
| 2024 | 3,486 | 400 | 26,364 |
| 2023 | 2,692 | 359 | 33,728 |
| 2022 | 2,142 | 324 | 34,387 |
| 2021 | 1,112 | 152 | 21,029 |
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
75 dayssubmission to acceptance
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
- Submission to first decision
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 33 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 75 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2 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 2,830 / EUR 2,650 / GBP 2,270 / JPY 351,000 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 2,400 | — | — |
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 prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Highlights
- Optional
- Graphical abstract
- Required
Article types accepted8
- correspondencesCorrespondences: it is recommended that authors discuss contributions of these types with the Editor(s) prior to submission.Length not stated
- editorialThe journal publishes:High quality Original Research ArticlesShort Communications Reviews: the Editors welcome submission of these article types. In addition, t…Length not stated
- original researchThe journal publishes:High quality Original Research ArticlesShort Communications Reviews: the Editors welcome submission of these article types. In addition, t…Length not stated
- original research articlesHigh quality Original Research ArticlesLength not stated
- reviewThe journal publishes:High quality Original Research ArticlesShort Communications Reviews: the Editors welcome submission of these article types. In addition, t…Length not stated
- reviewsReviews: the Editors welcome submission of these article types.Length not stated
- short communicationShort communications should be concise but complete. They should present a clear research message, sufficient evidence to support the conclusions, readable figu…Length not stated
- short communicationsShort CommunicationsLength not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, 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
Single corresponding author required. Model summary
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 ·- Publication ethics
Ethics: 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
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
Peer review type: 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 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 sharing allowed, not prior publication. Model summary
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 BV
- Country or region
- Netherlands
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 2352-4928
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Materials Today Communications
What CAS zone is Materials Today Communications in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Materials Today Communications 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 Today Communications?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 4.81; CiteScore 7.3, h-index 93.
How long does peer review take at Materials Today Communications?
The publisher reports about 75 days (submission to acceptance). 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 Today Communications?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Highlights: Optional; 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 Today Communications based?
Of the 191 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 29 (about 15%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (29), United Kingdom (25) and United States (23). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Materials Today Communications?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Materials Today Communications is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Materials Today Communications open access, and what is the APC?
Materials Today Communications is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 2,830.
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 2026-08-26). Last updated: .