Materials Horizons

Scope & Guideline

Advancing the Frontiers of Materials Science

Introduction

Immerse yourself in the scholarly insights of Materials Horizons with our comprehensive guidelines detailing its aims and scope. This page is your resource for understanding the journal's thematic priorities. Stay abreast of trending topics currently drawing significant attention and explore declining topics for a full picture of evolving interests. Our selection of highly cited topics and recent high-impact papers is curated within these guidelines to enhance your research impact.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN2051-6347
PublisherROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 2014 to 2024
AbbreviationMATER HORIZ / Mater. Horizons
Frequency12 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressTHOMAS GRAHAM HOUSE, SCIENCE PARK, MILTON RD, CAMBRIDGE CB4 0WF, CAMBS, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

Materials Horizons is dedicated to advancing the field of materials science by publishing high-quality research that focuses on innovative materials and their applications. The journal encompasses a wide range of topics related to the synthesis, characterization, and application of novel materials, with a particular emphasis on their functionalities and integration into devices.
  1. Novel Materials Development:
    The journal emphasizes the creation and exploration of new materials, including organic, inorganic, and hybrid systems, that possess unique properties suitable for various applications.
  2. Interdisciplinary Research:
    Materials Horizons encourages interdisciplinary approaches, integrating principles from physics, chemistry, and engineering to tackle complex materials challenges.
  3. Advanced Characterization Techniques:
    Research published in the journal often employs cutting-edge characterization methods to understand material properties at the atomic and molecular levels.
  4. Sustainability and Environmental Impact:
    The journal highlights studies focused on the development of sustainable materials and processes aimed at reducing environmental impacts.
  5. Functional Applications:
    There is a strong focus on the practical applications of materials in electronics, photonics, energy storage, and biomedical fields, emphasizing their real-world impact.
  6. Smart and Responsive Materials:
    Research on materials that exhibit smart behaviors, such as stimuli responsiveness and self-healing capabilities, is prominently featured.
  7. Nanotechnology:
    The journal covers advancements in nanomaterials and nanocomposites, including their synthesis, properties, and applications.
Materials Horizons has identified several emerging themes and trending research areas that reflect the current priorities and innovations in materials science. These topics are gaining traction and are expected to shape the future of research in the field.
  1. Sustainable and Green Materials:
    There is a growing emphasis on the development of materials that are environmentally friendly, including biodegradable polymers and recyclable materials, reflecting a collective shift towards sustainability.
  2. Smart and Adaptive Materials:
    Research into materials that respond dynamically to environmental stimuli—such as temperature, light, and moisture—has become increasingly prominent, paving the way for innovations in smart textiles and responsive devices.
  3. Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites:
    The exploration of nanomaterials continues to expand, particularly in their applications for energy storage, catalysis, and biomedical devices, highlighting their versatility and importance.
  4. 2D Materials and Heterostructures:
    There is a surge in research focused on two-dimensional materials, such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides, particularly in their applications for electronics, photonics, and energy devices.
  5. Machine Learning in Materials Science:
    The integration of machine learning techniques for materials discovery and optimization is a rapidly emerging area, reflecting the industry's shift towards data-driven research methodologies.
  6. Biomaterials and Bioinspired Design:
    A trend towards materials that mimic biological systems or are derived from natural sources is evident, particularly in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
  7. Electrochemical Energy Storage:
    Research into advanced battery technologies and supercapacitors, particularly those utilizing novel materials for improved performance and sustainability, is a key focus area.

Declining or Waning

While Materials Horizons continues to publish groundbreaking research, certain themes that were once prevalent have shown signs of declining interest or frequency. These waning scopes reflect the evolving priorities within the materials science community and the journal's adaptability to new trends.
  1. Conventional Energy Materials:
    There has been a noticeable decrease in publications focused on traditional energy materials such as bulk metals and alloys, as research increasingly shifts towards innovative, high-performance alternatives.
  2. Basic Polymer Studies:
    The journal has seen fewer submissions related to fundamental studies of conventional polymers, as the focus has moved towards functionalized or hybrid materials with enhanced properties.
  3. Static Materials Characterization:
    Research centered on static characterization techniques without novel applications has waned, with a stronger emphasis now on dynamic and real-time characterization methods.
  4. Traditional Coatings and Composites:
    Interest in conventional polymer coatings and composites is declining, as researchers explore more advanced, multifunctional coatings and composites with enhanced properties.
  5. Historical Material Studies:
    Papers focused on historical analyses of materials or traditional materials science education topics are less common, as the field pushes towards innovative and forward-thinking research.

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