Journal profile · Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Vacuum
ISSN 0042-207X · eISSN 1879-2715 · Elsevier Ltd · ENGLAND · Monthly · Founded 1951
Vacuum: CAS Zone 3 · Materials Science (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 4.22; hybrid open access; APC about USD 2,860; review about 88 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: easy (Elsevier website: 42%); 947 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Vacuum 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 Metal and Thin Film Mechanics, Plasma Diagnostics and Applications and Semiconductor materials and devices, together about 25% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Vacuum is an international rapid publications journal with a focus on short communication. All papers are peer-reviewed, with the review process for short communication geared towards very fast turnaround times. The journal also published full research papers, thematic issues and selected papers from leading conferences.A report in Vacuum should represent a major advance in an area that involves a controlled environment at pressures of one atmosphere or below.The scope of the journal includes: 1. Vacuum; original developments in vacuum pumping and instrumentation, vacuum measurement, vacuum gas dynamics, gas-surface interactions, surface treatment for UHV applications and low outgassing, vacuum melting, sintering, and vacuum metrology. Technology and solutions for large-scale facilities (e.g., particle accelerators and fusion devices). New instrumentation ( e.g., detectors and electron microscopes). 2. Plasma science; advances in PVD, CVD, plasma-assisted CVD, ion sources, deposition processes and analysis. 3. Surface science; surface engineering, surface chemistry, surface analysis, crystal growth, ion-surface interactions and etching, nanometer-scale processing, surface modification. 4. Materials science; novel functional or structural materials. Metals, ceramics, and polymers. Experiments, simulations, and modelling for understanding structure-property relationships. Thin films and coatings. Nanostructures and ion implantation.The aim of the short communications is to enable researchers to rapidly share their most exciting work with their colleagues.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Editor-in-chief L. G. HultmanPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 10 in mainland China (about 17%); most named Mainland China 10, United States 9, Sweden 7, Italy 4, Austria 4 (60 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Metal and Thin Film MechanicsEngineering10.7%
- Plasma Diagnostics and ApplicationsEngineering7.2%
- Semiconductor materials and devicesEngineering7.1%
- Ion-surface interactions and analysisEngineering7.1%
- Electron and X-Ray Spectroscopy TechniquesMaterials Science6.5%
- Diamond and Carbon-based Materials ResearchMaterials Science4.8%
- Scientific Measurement and Uncertainty EvaluationDecision Sciences4.2%
- Vacuum and Plasma ArcsPhysics and Astronomy4.2%
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 | Physics, Applied | Zone 2 |
| 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 |
| Minor | Physics, Applied | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Materials Science Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Materials Science | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Physics, Applied | Zone 2 |
| 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
- 4.22LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 4.3Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 7.6LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 7.6Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.77LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.12LetPub ·
- h-index
- 75LetPub ·
- h-index
- 136OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 8,806OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 4.47OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 11.6%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 7.51%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 907LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 53,198 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 717 | 110 | 376 |
| 2025 | 947 | 104 | 3,506 |
| 2024 | 945 | 125 | 7,787 |
| 2023 | 1,044 | 136 | 13,086 |
| 2022 | 816 | 89 | 12,842 |
| 2021 | 729 | 71 | 13,000 |
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
88 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)
- 42%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 1 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 29 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 88 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 2,860 / EUR 2,680 / GBP 2,290 / JPY 354,730 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 2,890 | — | — |
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 prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Highlights
- Required
Article types accepted11
- brief reportVacuum will consider three types of peer-reviewed manuscripts:1. Short Communications: intended as brief reports of significant, original, and timely research r…Length not stated
- conference paperVacuum will consider three types of peer-reviewed manuscripts:1. Short Communications: intended as brief reports of significant, original, and timely research r…Length not stated
- conference papersVacuum will publish reviews, thematic issues and a selection of conference papers.Length not stated
- full research paperVacuum will consider three types of peer-reviewed manuscripts:1. Short Communications: intended as brief reports of significant, original, and timely research r…Length not stated
- full research papersFull Research Papers: should be full reports including in-depth analysis and extensive discussion.Length not stated
- letterVacuum will consider three types of peer-reviewed manuscripts:1. Short Communications: intended as brief reports of significant, original, and timely research r…Length not stated
- reviewVacuum will consider three types of peer-reviewed manuscripts:1. Short Communications: intended as brief reports of significant, original, and timely research r…Length not stated
- reviewsVacuum will publish reviews, thematic issues and a selection of conference papers.Length not stated
- short communicationVacuum will consider three types of peer-reviewed manuscripts:1. Short Communications: intended as brief reports of significant, original, and timely research r…Length not stated
- short communicationsShort Communications: intended as brief reports of significant, original, and timely research results, which require rapid publication.Length not stated
- thematic issuesVacuum will publish reviews, thematic issues and a selection of conference papers.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
Open access options available 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 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 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 Ltd
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1951
- ISSN
- 0042-207X
- Electronic ISSN
- 1879-2715
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Vacuum
What CAS zone is Vacuum in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Vacuum is in Zone 3 of Materials Science, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Physics, Applied / 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 Vacuum?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 4.22; CiteScore 7.6, h-index 136.
How long does peer review take at Vacuum?
The publisher reports about 88 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 4.1 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy (Elsevier website: 42%)”. 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 Vacuum?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Highlights: 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 Vacuum based?
Of the 60 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 10 (about 17%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (10), United States (9) and Sweden (7). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Vacuum?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Vacuum is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Vacuum open access, and what is the APC?
Vacuum is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 2,860.
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: .