Nature Materials

Nature Materials. It is a prestigious monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Nature Portfolio, a division of Springer Nature. The journal covers all aspects of materials science and engineering, from fundamental research to technological applications, with a focus on interdisciplinary work at the forefront of the field. Its content includes original research articles, reviews, news and views, and commentaries aimed at a broad audience within the scientific community.

Overview and scope

The journal was launched in September 2002 to provide a dedicated forum for high-impact research in the rapidly evolving domain of materials science. Its scope encompasses the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of novel materials, with particular emphasis on work that bridges traditional disciplines like physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Regular sections include Letters and Articles for primary research, alongside Reviews, Perspectives, and News and Views pieces that contextualize advancements. The editorial team, based in London, New York City, and Shanghai, actively commissions content and manages a rigorous peer-review process to maintain the publication's high standards, often featuring research on topics such as nanotechnology, biomaterials, energy materials, and quantum materials.

Abstracting and indexing

The journal is comprehensively abstracted and indexed in major scientific databases, ensuring wide dissemination and discoverability of its content. Key services that cover its publications include the Science Citation Index Expanded, part of Clarivate's Web of Science, as well as Scopus from Elsevier and the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS). It is also indexed in PubMed and PubMed Central for its life sciences-relevant content, and in specialized databases like INSPEC and ADS. This broad indexing reflects the journal's interdisciplinary nature and contributes to its high citation metrics, as tracked by the Journal Citation Reports.

Editorial board and peer review

The journal operates under the leadership of its Chief Editor, Vincent Dusastre, and is supported by an international team of professional editors and a distinguished advisory board. The editorial board includes leading scientists from institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Max Planck Society, and the University of Cambridge, who guide the journal's strategic direction. The peer-review process is stringent and typically involves multiple rounds of evaluation by experts in the field, upholding the publication's reputation for scientific rigor. This process is managed electronically, and the journal also offers a transparent peer-review option and participates in initiatives like those from COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics).

Impact and reception

Since its launch, the journal has quickly established itself as one of the most influential publications in its field. It consistently receives high impact factor ratings from the Journal Citation Reports; for instance, its 2022 impact factor was 40.3. Research published in the journal is frequently featured in broader scientific media, including Nature Portfolio's own Nature News and international outlets like ScienceDaily. The journal's papers often attract significant attention from the research community and have contributed to advancements recognized by awards such as the Nobel Prize in Physics and the Wolf Prize in Chemistry. Its reputation is built on publishing groundbreaking work that often sets the agenda for future research directions in materials science.

Related publications

It is part of the extensive family of Nature Portfolio journals, which includes both broad-scope and specialized titles. Direct sibling publications within the materials science domain include Nature Nanotechnology and Nature Reviews Materials. Other related journals from the same publisher that often feature complementary research are Nature Physics, Nature Chemistry, and Nature Energy. The publisher also produces the flagship weekly journal Nature, where particularly transformative materials science research is sometimes published. Research from these journals is frequently disseminated through shared platforms and initiatives like Nature Conferences and the Springer Nature website.

Category:Materials science journals Category:Nature Research journals Category:Monthly journals Category:English-language journals Category:Publications established in 2002