Content Types

To submit one of the following content types, please read the formatting details below, then follow the submission guidelines:

• Article
• Analysis
• Review*
• Perspective*
• Comment*
• Correspondence*
• Matters Arising – see specialist submission process here.

For more information on these content types, please contact Nature Nanotechnology:

• News and Views*    
• Feature*
• Orbituary*
• Q&A

*These content types should not include original (previously unpublished) research findings and may only contain minimal new supporting data. As they are non-primary articles they are not eligible for Open Access and can only be published using the subscription-based publishing route.

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Article

An Article is a substantial novel research study, with a complex story often involving several techniques or approaches. 

Format

• Abstract – up to 150 words, unreferenced. 
• Main text – up to 3,000 words, excluding abstract, Methods, references and figure legends.
• Display items – up to 6 items (figures and/or tables). 
• Extended data figures – up to 10 items (figures and/or tables), appearing online only.
• Articles are divided into 4 to 6 sections with topical section headings, but generic headings such as ‘Introduction’, ‘Results’ and ‘Discussion’ should be avoided. The last heading should be “Conclusions”. Headings must be fewer than 60 characters including spaces. 
• Methods – up to 3,000 additional words, may contain subsections. Methods appear online only.
• Articles may be accompanied by supplementary information, which should be referred to explicitly in the main text. 
• References – as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 50.
• Articles include received/accepted dates. 
• Articles are peer reviewed.

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Analysis

An Analysis examines existing data or describes new data obtained in a comparative study, leading to novel and arresting conclusions of importance to a broad audience. 

Format

• Abstract – up to 150 words, unreferenced. 
• Main text – up to 3,000 words, excluding abstract, Methods, references and figure legends.
• Display items – up to 6 items (figures and/or tables). 
• Extended data figures – up to 10 items (figures and/or tables), appearing online only.
• Analyses are divided into 4 to 6 sections with topical section headings, but generic headings such as ‘Introduction’, ‘Results’ and ‘Discussion’ should be avoided. The last heading should be “Conclusions”. Headings must be fewer than 60 characters including spaces. 
• Methods – up to 3,000 additional words, may contain subsections. Methods appear online only.
• Analyses may be accompanied by supplementary information, which should be referred to explicitly in the main text. 
• References – as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 50.
• Analyses include received/accepted dates. 
• Analyses are peer reviewed.

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Review

A Review is an authoritative, balanced and scholarly survey of recent developments in a research field. The requirement for balance need not prevent authors from proposing a specific viewpoint, but if there are controversies in the field, the authors must treat them in an even-handed way. 

Review articles are typically commissioned by the editors, but we welcome detailed synopsis of Review proposals.

The scope of a Review should be broad enough that it is not dominated by the work of a single laboratory, and particularly not by the authors' own work.

Format

• Abstract – 150 words, unreferenced.
• Main text – up to 5,000 words.
• Display items – up to 6 items (figures and/or tables). Reviews may contain boxes of up to one page explaining technical concepts or singling out particularly enlightening examples.
• References – up to 120 (exceptions are possible in special cases). Citations should be selective and, in the case of particularly important studies (≤ 10% of all the references), we encourage authors to provide short annotations explaining why these are key contributions.
• Reviews include received/accepted dates. 
• Reviews are peer reviewed.

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Perspective

A Perspective is a format for scholarly reviews and discussions of the primary research literature that are too technical for a Comment (see below) but do not meet the criteria for a Review—either because the scope is too narrow, or because the author is advocating a controversial position or a speculative hypothesis or discussing work primarily from one group. Two reviews advocating opposite sides in a research controversy are normally published as Perspectives. 

Perspectives are typically commissioned by the editors, but we welcome detailed synopsis of Perspective proposals.

Format

• Abstract – 150 words, unreferenced.
• Main text – up to 3,000 words.
• Display items – 3 to 4 items (figures and/or tables). Perspectives may contain boxes of up to one page explaining technical concepts or singling out particularly enlightening examples.
• References – up to 50 (exceptions are possible in special cases). 
• Perspectives include received/accepted dates. 
• Perspectives are peer reviewed.

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Comment

A Comment is a flexible format that can focus on the scientific, commercial, ethical, legal, societal, or political issues surrounding research. Comment articles should be topical, readable, provocative and introduce new concepts/points of view, providing a personal perspective on a matter of public or scientific importance. The main criteria are that they should be of immediate interest to a broad readership and should be written in an accessible, non-technical style. 

Format

• Length – 1000 to 2000 words.
• There are no specific structural guidelines.
• Commentaries do not normally contain primary research data, although they may present 'sociological' data (funding trends, demographics, bibliographic data, etc.). 
• References should be used sparingly – up to 15.
• Peer review is at the editors' discretion.

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Correspondence

The Correspondence section provides a forum for comment on issues relevant to the journal’s community. This format may not be used for presentation of research data or analysis. 

Format

• Correspondence – between 300-800 words.
• Display items – 1 item.
• References – up to 10 references. Article titles are omitted from the reference list. 
• Correspondence may be peer-reviewed at the editors’ discretion. 

Note that Correspondence pieces are not technical comments on peer-reviewed research papers; these should be submitted as Matters Arising.

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Matters Arising

Matters Arising are exceptionally interesting and timely scientific comments and clarifications on original research papers published in Nature Nanotechnology. These comments should ideally be based on contemporary knowledge rather than subsequent scientific developments.

For detailed information on how to submit a Matters Arising, please follow instructions here.

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News and Views

News and Views articles inform readers about the latest advances in nanotechnology, as reported in recently published papers or at scientific meetings and they are by prior arrangement only. News and Views may be linked to articles in Nature Nanotechnology, or they may focus on papers of exceptional significance that are published elsewhere. Unsolicited contributions will not normally be considered.

News and Views are not peer reviewed.

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Feature

A Feature encompasses both the technical and commercial aspects of any topic relevant to our readership. This format is intended to complement the emerging scientific developments reported in the research section, and also to provide a forum for regulatory and business topics that would otherwise not be covered in the journal. 

Nature Nanotechnology welcomes ideas for feature topics.

Format

• Length – up to 3,000 words.
• Use of tables and figures is strongly encouraged.
• Written in a journalistic style, accessible to a wide range of non-specialist readers. 
• References – should be used sparingly, usually 10 to 25.