Before selecting a journal, it is essential to clearly define your research identity, as this determines not only where your work will be most appropriately evaluated, but also who will ultimately read, cite, and build upon it. Materials science is inherently interdisciplinary, and journals often position themselves around specific research approaches, material classes, or application domains.

The first step is to match your manuscript type to the journal’s publication model:

• Experimental studies emphasize synthesis, characterization techniques, and performance validation and are best suited to journals that prioritize methodological rigor and reproducibility.

• Theoretical papers focus on analytical models, fundamental mechanisms, and conceptual frameworks, requiring journals that value mathematical formulation and physical interpretation.

• Simulation-based research, such as first-principles calculations or multiscale modeling, should target outlets known for computational materials science and methodological innovation.

• Review articles are most appropriate for journals that specialize in critical synthesis and broad scholarly impact rather than primary data reporting.

Positioning your work within a recognized subfield further refines journal selection. For example:

• Functional materials research often targets journals emphasizing property–performance relationships and application-driven design.

• Nanomaterials research aligns with outlets focused on size-dependent phenomena, fabrication methods, and nanoscale characterization.

• Ferroelectrics and piezoelectrics typically fit journals serving dielectric, electromechanical, and solid-state physics communities.

• Energy materials research is frequently directed toward interdisciplinary journals that bridge materials chemistry, device engineering, and sustainability.

• Electronic and photonic materials work aligns with platforms serving semiconductor physics, optoelectronics, and device integration.

Equally important is understanding your intended audience. Specialist journals cater to narrowly defined expert communities and allow for high technical depth and field-specific terminology. Interdisciplinary journals, by contrast, reach broader scientific readerships and often require clearer contextualization, broader significance, and cross-disciplinary relevance.

By defining both the intellectual focus and the target audience of your work, you can select a journal that maximizes scientific impact, ensures informed and fair peer review, and strengthens your long-term research profile.