Journal profile · Physics, Condensed Matter
Surface Science
ISSN 0039-6028 · eISSN 1879-2758 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDS · Semimonthly · Founded 1964
Surface Science: CAS Zone 3 · Chemistry (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.29; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,340; review about 79 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: easy (Elsevier website: 43%); 152 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Surface Science is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 3 of Chemistry in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Advanced Chemical Physics Studies, Surface and Thin Film Phenomena and Electron and X-Ray Spectroscopy Techniques, together about 35.4% of its articles. Its main subfields are Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Including Surface Science Letters A journal devoted to the physics and chemistry of fnterfaces, Surface Science is devoted to elucidating the fundamental aspects of chemistry and physics occurring at a wide range of surfaces and interfaces and to disseminating this knowledge fast. The journal welcomes a broad spectrum of topics, including but not limited to:model systems (e.g. in Ultra High Vacuum) under well-controlled reactive conditionsnanoscale science and engineering, including manipulation of matter at the atomic/molecular scale and assembly phenomenareactivity of surfaces as related to various applied areas including heterogeneous catalysis, chemistry at electrified interfaces, and semiconductors functionalizationphenomena at interfaces relevant to energy storage and conversion, and fuels production and utilizationsurface reactivity for environmental protection and pollution remediationinteractions at surfaces of soft matter, including polymers and biomaterialslow dimensional materials
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Physics, Condensed Matter
Editor-in-chief H-P. SteinrückPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 6 in mainland China (about 11%); most named United States 21, Germany 11, Mainland China 6, Italy 3, United Kingdom 2 (56 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Advanced Chemical Physics StudiesPhysics and Astronomy16.1%
- Surface and Thin Film PhenomenaPhysics and Astronomy11%
- Electron and X-Ray Spectroscopy TechniquesMaterials Science8.3%
- Catalytic Processes in Materials ScienceMaterials Science7.9%
- nanoparticles nucleation surface interactionsEarth and Planetary Sciences6.6%
- Semiconductor materials and devicesEngineering6.3%
- Molecular Junctions and NanostructuresEngineering3.9%
- Ion-surface interactions and analysisEngineering3.7%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Chemistry Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Chemistry | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Physical | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Physics, Condensed Matter | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Chemistry Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Chemistry | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Physical | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Physics, Condensed Matter | Zone 4 |
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, Physical | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Physics, Condensed Matter | Zone 4 |
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
- 2.29LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 2.3Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 3.8LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 3.8Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.43LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.62LetPub ·
- h-index
- 133LetPub ·
- h-index
- 270OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 24,356OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.52OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 4.3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 28.72%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 131LetPub ·
- Articles per year (publisher)
- 2,018Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 39,609 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 111 | 19 | 49 |
| 2025 | 152 | 43 | 311 |
| 2024 | 160 | 93 | 707 |
| 2023 | 123 | 31 | 728 |
| 2022 | 147 | 44 | 1,048 |
| 2021 | 146 | 50 | 2,584 |
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
79 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 2.5 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 2.5 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 43%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 3 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 40 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 79 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 3,340 / EUR 3,120 / GBP 2,670 / JPY 414,260 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,410 | — | — |
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 papers3, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 2,500 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Required
Article types accepted4, with length limits
- letterRegular Papers and LettersFull length (regular) papers not previously published nor posted on the web.Letters, 1800-2500 words, reporting important results that…main text ≤ 2,500 words
- lettersLetters, 1800-2500 words, reporting important results that justify priority handling.Length not stated
- regular paperRegular Papers and LettersFull length (regular) papers not previously published nor posted on the web.Letters, 1800-2500 words, reporting important results that…Length not stated
- regular papersFull length (regular) papers not previously published nor posted on the web.Length 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
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
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
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 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, does not count as 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
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Semimonthly
- Founded
- 1964
- ISSN
- 0039-6028
- Electronic ISSN
- 1879-2758
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Surface Science
What CAS zone is Surface Science in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Surface Science is in Zone 3 of Chemistry, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Chemistry, Physical / Physics, Condensed Matter. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 4 of Chemistry. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Surface Science?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.29; CiteScore 3.8, h-index 270.
How long does peer review take at Surface Science?
The publisher reports about 79 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 2.5 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy (Elsevier website: 43%)”. 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 Surface Science?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Manuscript length: ≤ 2,500 words; 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 Surface Science based?
Of the 56 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 6 (about 11%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (21), Germany (11) and Mainland China (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Surface Science?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Surface Science is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Surface Science open access, and what is the APC?
Surface Science is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,340.
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: .