What is the Int. J. Hydrog. Energy JIF?

The JIF is 8.3 (2024 JCR). See the full year-by-year trend and category ranking in our International Journal of Hydrogen Energy JIF analysis.

What is the acceptance rate of International Journal of Hydrogen Energy?

Manusights currently treats ~40-50% as an estimate for International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, not an official journal-published rate. One common reason papers fail is materials or chemistry research without clear hydrogen energy application.

How long does Int. J. Hydrog. Energy take to review?

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy typically takes ~90-130 days median, but timing varies by editor, field, and reviewer availability. Expect an editorial screen first, then manuscript preparation, then peer review.

All Journal Guides

Journal Guide

Publishing in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy: Fit, Timeline & Submission Guide

Q: Is International Journal of Hydrogen Energy a good journal?

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy is a strong target if start with energy context. It is a weaker fit if a novel catalyst or material is interesting for IJHE only if it enables hydrogen production, storage, or fuel cell function.

Q: Is International Journal of Hydrogen Energy peer reviewed?

Yes, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy is fully peer reviewed. All submissions undergo rigorous peer review by 2-3 hydrogen energy experts assess technology novelty, performance validity, and energy system relevance. Reviewers often include industry experts. First decision 90-130 days..

Q: What does Int. J. Hydrog. Energy look for in submissions?

Clear energy application and pathway to decarbonization: Start with energy context. How does your technology enable hydrogen production, storage, or utilization? What role in energy transition? Quantify carbon reduction or energy efficiency gains. Connect research to clean energy goals.

Hydrogen as energy source: production, storage, and clean power applications

Should you submit here?

Submit if start with energy context. Be careful if a novel catalyst or material is interesting for IJHE only if it enables hydrogen production, storage, or fuel cell function.

IF 8.3 · ~40-50% accepted · ~90-130 days median

Best fit if

Start with energy context

Not ideal if

A novel catalyst or material is interesting for IJHE only if it enables hydrogen production, storage, or fuel cell function

Also compare

Energyand Appl. Energy

8.3

Impact Factor (2024)

~40-50%

Acceptance Rate

~90-130 days median

Time to First Decision

Submission guide

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy Submission Guide: Scope & Tips

A practical International Journal of Hydrogen Energy submission guide covering scope, editorial fit, and how to package a hydrogen-energy paper.

Journal assessment

Is International Journal of Hydrogen Energy a Good Journal? The Hydrogen Economy's Home Journal

IJHE (IF 8.1) is the primary journal for hydrogen energy research, production, storage, fuel cells, safety. Here's when your paper fits, what editors reject, and how it compares to Applied Energy and J. Power Sources.

Desk rejection

How to Avoid Desk Rejection at International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

How to avoid desk rejection at International Journal of Hydrogen Energy: energy relevance, benchmarking, and durability.

What Int. J. Hydrog. Energy Publishes

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy published by Elsevier is the premier journal for research on hydrogen energy systems. With JIF 8.3 and Q1 ranking in Hydrogen & Fuel Cells, IJHE emphasizes research enabling practical hydrogen economy. The journal publishes original research on hydrogen production, storage, fuel cells, and clean energy applications. Critically: IJHE values work with practical energy relevance. Pure materials or chemistry research without hydrogen/fuel cell application is less competitive. The journal seeks papers demonstrating how technologies advance clean hydrogen energy production or utilization.

Hydrogen production: electrolysis, steam reforming, photoelectrochemical, biological
Storage systems: solid-state storage, cryogenic, underground storage, metal hydrides
Fuel cells: proton exchange membrane, solid oxide, alkaline, direct methanol
Materials for hydrogen: catalysts, electrodes, membranes, storage materials
System integration: grid integration, power-to-gas, energy conversion efficiency
Safety and handling: hydrogen safety, codes and standards, risk assessment
Thermodynamics and efficiency: process efficiency, waste heat recovery, system optimization
Applications: vehicles, distributed power, industrial processes, grid storage

Editor Insight

“International Journal of Hydrogen Energy publishes research advancing hydrogen economy. The best papers demonstrate practical technologies with competitive performance, durability, and economic feasibility. We seek work enabling transition to clean hydrogen-based energy systems with clear path toward implementation.”

What Int. J. Hydrog. Energy Editors Look For

Clear energy application and pathway to decarbonization

Start with energy context. How does your technology enable hydrogen production, storage, or utilization? What role in energy transition? Quantify carbon reduction or energy efficiency gains. Connect research to clean energy goals.

Performance metrics compared to state-of-the-art technologies

Quantify your technology performance: hydrogen production efficiency, storage density, fuel cell power output, cost. Compare directly with existing technologies showing advantages. Generic improvements without clear performance gain are weak.

Durability and cycling stability for energy devices

Energy systems need longevity. For catalysts, demonstrate cycling stability and degradation rates. For fuel cells, show cell voltage stability over extended operation. For storage, assess cycle life. Durability data is essential for practical energy systems.

Cost analysis and economic feasibility

Address cost: material costs, manufacturing scalability, operational expenses. Compare cost per unit energy produced or stored with alternatives. Economically impractical technologies have limited real-world impact.

System-level thinking and integration feasibility

Consider full system: how does your technology fit into hydrogen infrastructure? Standalone innovations need integration path. Address interactions with existing grid, storage, or transportation infrastructure.

Why Papers Get Rejected

These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past Int. J. Hydrog. Energy's editorial review:

Materials or chemistry research without clear hydrogen energy application

A novel catalyst or material is interesting for IJHE only if it enables hydrogen production, storage, or fuel cell function. Show specific hydrogen energy application.

Performance claims without comparison to state-of-the-art alternatives

Showing that your catalyst or fuel cell works is insufficient. Compare efficiency, power output, or cost with commercial technologies. Show competitive advantage.

Short-term laboratory performance without durability/cycling data

Energy systems must operate reliably for years. A catalyst working perfectly for hours or days but degrading rapidly lacks practical value. Demonstrate durability.

Ignoring cost and economic scalability

Many novel hydrogen technologies are economically impractical at scale. Address material cost, manufacturing complexity, and scale-up challenges. Economically infeasible approaches have limited impact.

Missing system integration and grid compatibility discussion

Standalone innovations need to fit hydrogen infrastructure. How does your technology integrate with existing or future hydrogen systems? Isolation from energy system context is weak.

Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?

The Free Readiness Scan reads your full manuscript against Int. J. Hydrog. Energy's criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.

Run Free Readiness Scan →

Insider Tips from Int. J. Hydrog. Energy Authors

Green hydrogen production (electrolysis, photoelectrochemistry) is highest priority

Research enabling carbon-free hydrogen production from water and renewable electricity is scientifically prominent and aligned with energy transition. Hydrogen from fossil fuels has declining appeal.

Advanced fuel cell materials and catalysts are competitive

Improving fuel cell performance through novel electrodes, membranes, or catalysts is impactful. Platinum-free catalysts and high-temperature fuel cells are active research areas.

Solid-state storage materials are increasingly competitive

Novel solid hydrogen storage materials (metal hydrides, organic compounds, MOFs) for transportation and grid storage are scientifically prominent as technology development matures.

System efficiency and lifecycle analysis strengthen papers

Analyzing full-system efficiency from electricity input to hydrogen output to power generation, and comparing lifecycle carbon with alternatives, demonstrates comprehensive energy thinking.

Integration with renewable energy strengthens impact

Research coupling hydrogen systems with solar or wind power, enabling energy storage and grid balancing, connects to practical decarbonization scenarios.

The Int. J. Hydrog. Energy Submission Process

Manuscript preparation

Prep

7,000-10,000 words with 6-8 figures. Include technology description, performance metrics, comparison with state-of-the-art, durability/cycling data, cost analysis, and system integration discussion. Supporting info: detailed performance curves, durability data, cost calculations.

Submission via Elsevier system

Day 0

Submit at https://www.editorialmanager.com/IJHE/. Required: manuscript, figures emphasizing performance advantages and energy significance, cover letter highlighting decarbonization impact and practical feasibility.

Editorial assessment

1-2 weeks

Editor assesses hydrogen energy relevance, performance significance, and practical feasibility. Papers lacking clear energy application or competitive performance face lower priority. Moderate desk rejection ~25-35%.

Peer review

90-130 days

2-3 hydrogen energy experts assess technology novelty, performance validity, and energy system relevance. Reviewers often include industry experts. First decision 90-130 days.

Revision and publication

Revision: 4-8 weeks

Revisions often request durability data, cost analysis, or discussion of system integration. Publication 2-4 weeks after acceptance.

Int. J. Hydrog. Energy by the Numbers

2024 Impact Factor	8.3
5-Year Impact Factor	7.7
Acceptance rate	~40-50%
Desk rejection rate	~25-35%
Median first decision	~110 days
Open access option	$3,100 USD
Publisher	Elsevier
Founded	1976

Before you submit

Int. J. Hydrog. Energy accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.

Start with the Free Readiness Scan. Unlock the Full AI Diagnostic for $29. If you need deeper scientific feedback, choose Expert Review. The full report is calibrated to Int. J. Hydrog. Energy.

Run Free Readiness Scan See a sample report

Article Types

Research Article

7,000-10,000 words

Hydrogen technology development and performance

Review

10,000-15,000 words

Comprehensive hydrogen energy technology review

Short Communication

4,000-5,000 words

Focused hydrogen technology finding

Landmark Int. J. Hydrog. Energy Papers

Papers that defined fields and changed science:

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (Grubb & Niedrach, 1950s) - enabled mobile fuel cell applications
Alkaline electrolysis (1880s-1900s) - water electrolysis for hydrogen production
Solid oxide fuel cells (1980s-present) - high-temperature efficient power generation
Green hydrogen vision (2000s-present) - renewable electricity for electrolysis
Hydrogen storage materials research (2000s-present) - safe, efficient hydrogen storage

Preparing a Int. J. Hydrog. Energy Submission?

Get pre-submission feedback from reviewers who've published in Int. J. Hydrog. Energy and know exactly what editors look for.

Run Free Readiness Scan

Need expert depth? See Expert Review Options

NDA-protected

Confidential

Primary Fields

Hydrogen ProductionEnergy StorageFuel CellsCatalysisGreen EnergyEnergy Efficiency

More Guides for This Journal

Ready to submit to Int. J. Hydrog. Energy?

A desk rejection costs months. Get expert feedback before you submit, from scientists who know exactly what Int. J. Hydrog. Energy editors look for.

Avoid Desk Rejection

Get expert pre-submission review before you submit to Int. J. Hydrog. Energy. 3-7 day turnaround.

Manuscript Rejected?

Expert revision help to strengthen your manuscript and resubmit with confidence.

Reviewer Response Help

Get expert guidance crafting your response to Int. J. Hydrog. Energy reviewers.

Reference library

Compare Int. J. Hydrog. Energy with the broader publishing context

This journal guide is the best starting point for Int. J. Hydrog. Energy. The reference library covers the surrounding questions authors usually ask next: whether the package is ready, what drives desk rejection, how neighboring journals compare, and what the submission constraints look like across the field.

Open the reference library →

Checklist system / operational asset

Elite Submission Checklist

A flagship pre-submission checklist that turns journal-fit, desk-reject, and package-quality lessons into one operational final-pass audit.

Flagship report / decision support

Desk Rejection Report

A canonical desk-rejection report that organizes the most common editorial failure modes, what they look like, and how to prevent them.

Dataset / reference hub

Journal Intelligence Dataset

A canonical journal dataset that combines selectivity posture, review timing, submission requirements, and Manusights fit signals in one citeable reference asset.

Dataset / reference guide

Peer Review Timelines by Journal

Reference-grade journal timeline data that authors, labs, and writing centers can cite when discussing realistic review timing.