ENGINEERING Transformative Materials Author Guidelines
General Introduction
ENGINEERING Transformative Materials is a premier international, interdisciplinary journal dedicated to publishing frontier breakthroughs in materials science with paradigm-shifting significance. We focus on innovations that redefine technological boundaries, reconstruct industrial landscapes, and provide disruptive solutions to global challenges. The journal is published quarterly in English by Higher Education Press (HEP), both in print and online. Online versions are available at [URL].
Before submitting, authors should ask: Does this work represent a fundamental conceptual advance? Does it offer a solution to a critical problem via deep interdisciplinary convergence?
To facilitate your submission process, a Quick Checklist of requirements is provided below.
1. Submission Checklist (At-a-Glance)
Item | Requirement |
Research Article | Main text: 3,000–6,000 words (excluding Abstract, Methods, References). |
Review Article | Flexible length (typically 6,000–10,000 words). |
Perspectives | Insightful opinion pieces: ≤ 2,000 words. |
Comm. / Views | Short communication: ≤ 2,500 words. |
Figures + Tables | Research: ~8 combined total. Letter: ≤ 4. |
Highlights | Mandatory. 3–5 bullet points (max 85 characters each including spaces). |
Graphical Abstract | Mandatory. See detailed specifications in Section 4. |
Abstract | One paragraph, 150–250 words. Unstructured. |
References | Numbered style (e.g., [1], [2-3]). No strict limit, but must be appropriate. |
Data Availability | Mandatory. A statement regarding data access must be included. |
Cover Letter | Must explain the transformative nature of the work. |
2. Types of Articles
ENGINEERING Transformative Materials publishes diverse contributions. Please select the appropriate type:
l Research Articles: Comprehensive reports demonstrating significant conceptual novelty, robust data support, and clear application prospects.
l Review Articles: Authoritative surveys by leading experts that critically assess rapidly evolving fields, identify core challenges, and map out future roadmaps.
l Perspectives: Insightful analyses of emerging technical trends, potential disruptive directions, or controversial topics.
l Comments & Views: Concise commentaries and in-depth discussions on pressing policies, industrial dynamics, or major findings published in the journal.
3. Ethics & Editorial Policies
a. Originality & Plagiarism
Authors must ensure their work is entirely original. Plagiarism, data fabrication, or image manipulation is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate rejection. All submissions are screened via iThenticate.
b. AI Policy (Generative AI)
The use of Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) to produce scientific text is discouraged. If used for editing, it must be declared in the Acknowledgements. AI tools cannot be listed as authors.
c. Authorship
Authorship should be limited to those who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the work. All co-authors must approve the final version.
d. Data Availability
To promote transparency, ENGINEERING Transformative Materials requires a Data Availability Statement at the end of the manuscript (e.g., "All data needed to evaluate the conclusions are present in the paper and/or the Supplementary Materials").
e. Conflicts of Interest
All authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could be viewed as a potential conflict of interest.
4. Manuscript Components: Detailed Specifications
Manuscripts should be submitted as a single Word file, double-spaced, with continuous line numbers.
a. Cover Letter (Crucial)
A cover letter must accompany each submission. It should not simply repeat the abstract but must explicitly state:
1．The broad impact of the work.
2．Why the findings are considered "transformative."
3．Suggestions for 3–5 potential independent reviewers.
b. Title
Explicit, descriptive, and brief (no more than 20 words). Avoid abbreviations.
c. Authors & Affiliations
Provide full names and affiliations (with postal address). Clearly indicate the corresponding author(s) with email addresses.
d. Highlights
3 to 5 bullet points conveying the core findings. These are used for social media promotion.
e. Abstract
Concise and factual (150–250 words). State the purpose, principal results, and major conclusions. Do not cite references or figures in the abstract.
f. Graphical Abstract
A visual summary of the main finding is mandatory.
l Size: Minimum 6 cm (h) × 11 cm (w) at 300 dpi.
l Content: Clear visual flow; minimal text. Avoid using the same image as Figure 1.
g. Keywords
Provide 4–6 keywords for indexing purposes.
h. Main Text Structure
l Introduction: State objectives, the "gap" in current knowledge, and the hypothesis.
l Results & Discussion: Present clear results and explore their significance in a broader context.
l Conclusion: Summarize primary conclusions.
l Methods: Provide sufficient detail for reproducibility. Note: Methods may be placed after the Conclusions section to improve readability.
i. Figures & Tables
l Figures: Submit as high-resolution files (TIFF/EPS/PDF). Ensure text is legible. Number consecutively (Fig. 1, Fig. 2).
l Tables: Use three-line style (no vertical lines). Submit as editable text, not images.
j. References
l In-text: Numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals in brackets, e.g., [1], [2, 3].
l List: Listed in citation order at the end of the manuscript.
Journal: Smith J, Doe A. Title of article. Journal Name, Year, Volume(Issue): Page range.
Book: Brown T. Book Title. City: Publisher, Year.
5. Post-Acceptance & Production
l Copyright: Articles are published Open Access under a CC BY license.
l Proofs: The corresponding author will receive proofs for checking. Corrections are limited to typographical errors; no new data may be inserted.
l Promotion: Upon publication, we strongly encourage authors to work with our media team to promote their work via press releases and social media platforms.
Submission System
Submission proceeds totally online via the journal's submission system: [URL ].
For any inquiries, please contact the Editorial Office at: daiwy@szlab.ac.cn.