Content Types

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

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

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

• News & Views*    
• Books & Arts*
• Feature and News Feature*
• Q&A*
• Reverse Engineering*

*These content types should not include original (previously unpublished) research findings and may only contain minimal new supporting data.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

Nature Electronics publishes primary research in one format, Articles, which can range in length from short communications to longer, more in-depth reports. Regardless of length, an Article should report an important research study of high quality and general interest to the broad electronics community. 

Articles are peer reviewed and include received/accepted dates.

Format

• Main text – typically up to 3,500 words, excluding abstract, Methods, references and figure legends.
• Abstract – approximately 150 words, unreferenced.
• Display items – up to 6 items (figures and/or tables). 
• Article should be divided as follows: 
  • Introduction (without heading) 
  • A few short topical headings
  • Conclusions
  • Methods (divided by topical subheadings).
• References – as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 50.
• Articles may be accompanied by Supplementary Information 

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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. 

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.

Reviews are always peer reviewed, and are edited by the journal editors in consultation with the authors. Reviews include received/accepted dates.

Format

• Main text – typically no more than 5,000 words. 
• Abstract – approximately 150 words, unreferenced.
• Display items – typically up to 6 items (figures, tables and/or boxes). 
• Illustrations are strongly encouraged.
• References – up to 100 (exceptions are possible in particular cases)
• Citations – these 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.

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Perspective

A Perspective is intended to provide a forum for authors to discuss results and ideas from a personal viewpoint. They are more forward-looking and/or speculative than Reviews and may take a narrower field of view. They may be opinionated but should remain balanced and are intended to stimulate discussion and new approaches.

Perspectives are always peer reviewed, and are edited by the journal editors in consultation with the authors. Perspectives include received/accepted dates.

Format

• Main text – typically no more than 4,000 words.
• Abstract – approximately 150 words, unreferenced.
• Display items – typically up to 4 items (figures, tables and/or boxes). 
• Illustrations are strongly encouraged.
• References – up to 50 (exceptions are possible in particular cases).

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Comment

A Comment article can focus on commercial, ethical, legal, societal or political issues surrounding electronics research, as well as purely scientific and engineering issues. This is an ‘opinion’ section of the journal, and Comment articles should be of immediate interest to a broad readership and should be written in an accessible, non-technical style.

Comment articles may be peer reviewed at the editors' discretion, and are edited by the journal editors in consultation with the authors.

Format

• Main text – typically no more than 2,000 words.
• References should be used sparingly – up to 15.
• Figures and diagrams are encouraged, but are not a requirement.
• Commentaries do not normally contain primary research data, although they may present 'sociological' data (funding trends, demographics, bibliographic data, etc.)

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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. 

Correspondence may be peer reviewed at the editors’ discretion. 

Format

• Correspondence – between 300–800 words.
• Display items – 1 item.
• References – up to 10 references; Article titles are omitted from the reference list.

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 Electronics. 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 & Views

News & Views articles inform readers about the latest advances in electronics research, as reported in recently published papers (in Nature Electronics or elsewhere) or at scientific meetings. News & Views articles are usually commissioned, but proposals for papers to be covered in this section can be made to the editorial team — although suggestions must be received either in advance of the paper being published or shortly thereafter to ensure our coverage is as timely as possible.

News & Views are not peer reviewed, but undergo editing in consultation with the author.

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Books & Arts

The Books & Arts section comprises timely reviews of books and other cultural and pedagogical resources of interest to the electronics community. They are usually commissioned, though unsolicited contributions will be considered. 

Books & Arts articles are not peer reviewed, but undergo editing in consultation with the author.

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Feature and News Feature

These sections are written or commissioned by the journal editors. They do not contain unsolicited material. We are, however, happy to accept freelance pitches of exclusive stories. Features and News Features are written in a journalistic style, and should be accessible to a wide range of non-specialist readers. 

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Q&A

Q&A pieces are interviews with individuals on topics that will be of interest to the wider electronics community. Q&A articles are usually commissioned, but external proposals can be made to the editorial team.

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Reverse Engineering

Reverse Engineering is dedicated to the history of seminal technologies, and provides researchers who played a pivotal role in establishing a technology an opportunity to discuss its invention and/or development from a personal perspective. Reverse Engineering articles are usually commissioned, but external proposals can be made to the editorial team.

Reverse Engineering articles are not peer reviewed, but undergo editing in consultation with the author.