• All article types are subject to peer review

• Soft Matter publishes five different types of invited review article: Emerging Areas, Highlights, Opinions, Reviews and Tutorial Review. These articles are usually invited, but suggestions for these are welcome and should be sent to the Editorial Office        

Soft Matter Communications 
Communications in Soft Matter contain novel scientific work of such importance and interest that rapid publication is required. Communications are concise and should not exceed four journal pages (~2000 words) in length; they may be accompanied by supplementary material. Communications start with a brief unreferenced abstract and do not contain any section headings. The number of references should be limited to ~15. A short justification statement must be included with the submission outlining why the work merits rapid publication. 


Soft Matter Full Papers 
Full Papers in Soft Matter present original high quality primary research that has not been previously published. Full Papers start with a brief unreferenced abstract and contain an introduction, results and discussion, experimental, and notes and references sections. 

 

Soft Matter  Reviews 
Reviews in Soft Matter  are critical reviews of a topical and significant area of research. They are typically up to 6000 words in length (although they may be shorter) and include a short biography of the author(s). Reviews may not contain unpublished data.

Soft Matter Emerging Areas
Emerging areas in Soft Matter are short, personal accounts of a potentially important and growing new field of research. They are typically up to 3000 words in length and include a short biography of the author(s). Emerging Areas should not contain unpublished data.

Soft Matter  Highlights
Highlights single out important new developments and explain the significance of the work to the broad, interdisciplinary Soft Matter audience. They may point out further urgent follow-up work and challenges that are still faced, and may be speculative in nature. No unpublished work should be presented; these papers are intended to put existing work into perspective. Highlights are typically no longer than 2000 words.

 

Soft Matter Opinions 
Opinions in Soft Matter are typically 2000 words in length and provide a personal, often speculative, viewpoint or hypothesis on a topic of current interest to the scientific community. They may concern a recent publication in Soft Matter (in which case the author(s) concerned will be given the opportunity to respond) or discuss any current hot topic from the author's point of view; provided that they are not defamatory to the work of others they can be controversial and stimulate counter-opinion. They can include a short biography of the author(s).
 
Soft Matter Tutorial Reviews 
These are a type of review that provide an essential introduction to a particular area of soft matter.  The article should have particular appeal to younger researchers and established researchers seeking new fields to explore.  Tutorial reviews should be typically up to 6000 words in length and include a short biography of the author(s). Tutorial Revies should not contain unpublished data.