Journal of Alloys and Compounds Formatting Requirements: Complete Author Guide

JAC follows the standard Elsevier abstract format with materials-science-specific expectations.

• Word limit: 150 to 200 words
• Structure: Unstructured (single paragraph)
• Citations: Not allowed
• Abbreviations: Avoid unless universally recognized (XRD, SEM, TEM)
• Keywords: 4 to 6 keywords, listed after the abstract

The abstract should state the research objective, the alloy system or material studied, the experimental techniques used, the main findings with specific data (compositions, temperatures, property values), and the significance.

JAC editors and reviewers expect quantitative abstracts. "The magnetic properties were improved" is insufficient. "Saturation magnetization increased from 142 to 178 emu/g with the addition of 5 at.% Co, while coercivity remained below 50 Oe" is the expected level of detail.

Keywords should target specific materials and properties. Good keywords: "high-entropy alloy," "thermoelectric properties," "spark plasma sintering," "magnetic anisotropy." Poor keywords: "alloys," "compounds," "properties." The more specific your keywords, the better your article performs in ScienceDirect search results.

Highlights are mandatory for all JAC submissions. This Elsevier feature serves as the first contact point between your article and potential readers on ScienceDirect.

Requirements:

• 3 to 5 bullet points
• Each point maximum 85 characters including spaces
• No abbreviations, no citations, no figure references
• Focus on findings, not methods

Good examples:

• "FeCoNiCrMn HEA shows 1.2 GPa yield strength at 77 K"
• "Zr substitution doubles thermoelectric ZT at 800 K"
• "Novel glass-ceramic achieved via controlled crystallization"

Poor examples:

• "XRD and SEM analysis were performed on the samples" (method, not finding)
• "The results are discussed in terms of microstructure" (vague)

The 85-character limit is enforced by the submission system. Count every character including spaces. Many authors draft highlights that are too long and then struggle to compress them. Write highlights after the paper is finished, starting from your Conclusions section.

JAC papers are typically figure-intensive, with extensive characterization data presented visually.

Figure specifications:

Materials characterization figures: JAC papers routinely include XRD patterns, SEM/TEM micrographs, phase diagrams, and property-composition plots. Specific conventions for each:

• XRD patterns: Label peaks with phase identifications or Miller indices. Include the 2-theta range, step size, and radiation source (Cu K-alpha, Co K-alpha) in the caption or Methods section. Stack patterns vertically with clear offsets when comparing multiple samples.
• SEM/TEM images: Always include scale bars embedded in the image. Specify magnification in the caption. For EDS maps, include the element color coding in the caption or a legend overlay.
• Phase diagrams: If presenting a calculated phase diagram, specify the thermodynamic database and software (e.g., Thermo-Calc with TCHEA4). If experimental, show the data points clearly.
• Mechanical property plots: Include error bars or standard deviations. Specify the number of specimens tested. For stress-strain curves, indicate strain rate and temperature.

Table formatting: Elsevier standard. Three horizontal rules only. No vertical rules. Captions above the table. For crystallographic data, include space group, lattice parameters, and R-factors in a table. For compositional data, specify whether values are in atomic percent (at.%) or weight percent (wt.%).

Graphical abstract: Optional but recommended. Minimum 531 x 1328 pixels. Should visually convey the material, the processing or characterization approach, and the key property achievement. Articles with graphical abstracts get more views on ScienceDirect.

JAC uses the standard Elsevier numbered reference style.

In-text citations: Numbers in square brackets, sequential by first appearance: [1], [2,3], [4-7].

Reference list format:

[1] A.B. Author, C.D. Author, E.F. Author, Title of the article, J. Alloys Compd. Volume (Year) Pages. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Key formatting details:

• Author names: Initials first, then last name (e.g., "A.B. Smith").
• Commas between all authors.
• Journal titles abbreviated following ISO 4 (e.g., "J. Alloys Compd." for JAC itself).
• Volume in bold.
• Year in parentheses.
• DOIs strongly encouraged.
• For conference proceedings: include conference name, location, year, and page range.
• For books: include publisher, city, year, and edition.
• For patents: include patent number, assignee, and date.

Patent citations are relatively common in materials science. Format them as:

[25] A.B. Inventor, Title of Patent, US Patent 9,876,543, 2024.

No formal cap on references. Research Articles typically cite 30 to 50 sources. The reference list should demonstrate awareness of the field without padding. Reviewers in materials science will flag excessive self-citation.

Use reference management software with the Elsevier numbered style. Double-check that journal abbreviations are correct after export, particularly for journals with long names.

JAC supports supplementary material hosted on ScienceDirect alongside the article.

Common supplementary content for JAC:

• Additional XRD patterns, SEM/TEM images
• EDS spectra and elemental maps
• Rietveld refinement details
• Thermodynamic calculation parameters
• Additional mechanical, magnetic, or thermal property data
• Computational details (DFT parameters, supercell configurations)

Supplementary items are cited as "Fig. S1," "Table S1," etc. They go through peer review with the main manuscript.

For crystallographic data (new crystal structures), consider depositing in the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database (ICSD) or the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). Include the deposition number in the paper.

For computational data (DFT input/output files), deposit in repositories like the Materials Cloud or NOMAD. Cite the DOI in the Data Availability section.

File upload limits in Editorial Manager are approximately 50 MB per file. For larger datasets, use Mendeley Data or Zenodo.

Data availability statement: Required. Specify where the underlying data can be accessed.

These are the details that experienced JAC authors know:

Alloy notation conventions. JAC expects consistent notation for alloy compositions. Use atomic percent (at.%) or weight percent (wt.%) and specify which one. For multi-component alloys and high-entropy alloys, use standard notation: FeCoNiCrMn or Fe20Co20Ni20Cr20Mn20 (subscripts for at.%). Don't switch between notation systems within the paper.

Crystal structure reporting. When reporting crystal structure data, include the space group (in Hermann-Mauguin notation), lattice parameters (with uncertainties), and the source of structural identification (ICDD PDF card number, ICSD reference). This level of detail is expected, not optional.

CRediT author statement. Mandatory. Upload as a separate item in Editorial Manager, not in the manuscript body.

Declaration of competing interest. Required with Elsevier's standard phrasing: "The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper."

Sample designation. Use a consistent naming convention for samples throughout the paper. If you call a sample "S1" in the Methods, use "S1" everywhere, not "Sample 1" in the text and "S-1" in the figures. Inconsistent sample naming is a common reviewer complaint.

Property units. Use SI units. For magnetic properties: emu/g, kA/m, T, or Oe (specify which system). For mechanical properties: GPa or MPa for strength, % for elongation. For thermal properties: W/(m K) for thermal conductivity. Be consistent throughout.

Temperature reporting. Specify temperatures in Celsius or Kelvin consistently. When reporting phase transformation temperatures, use the standard notation (e.g., Curie temperature T_C, glass transition temperature T_g). Define these at first use.

Microstructure description terminology. Use standardized metallographic terms: grain boundary, phase boundary, precipitate, matrix, intermetallic phase. Avoid informal descriptions. Reviewers in this field are particular about precise microstructural terminology.

Ethical and data statements. Even though JAC research rarely involves human or animal subjects, the submission system requires you to confirm ethical compliance. If your paper involves materials sourced from sensitive supply chains (rare earths, conflict minerals), consider acknowledging the sourcing in the Methods section.

1. Highlights character limit. 85 characters per bullet point, enforced by the system. The single most common formatting error at Elsevier journals.

1. Crystal structure card numbers. Reviewers expect ICDD PDF or ICSD reference numbers for all identified phases. Omitting them is seen as sloppy characterization.

1. CRediT statement as separate upload. Don't embed in the manuscript. Upload as a distinct item in Editorial Manager.

1. Composition notation consistency. Choose at.% or wt.% and stick with it. State the basis at first mention and maintain it throughout.

1. Scale bars on all microscopy images. Every SEM, TEM, and optical microscopy image needs an embedded scale bar. Missing scale bars are a guaranteed reviewer comment.