Journal Guide
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy Impact Factor 8.3: Publishing Guide
Hydrogen as energy source: production, storage, and clean power applications
8.3
Impact Factor (2024)
~40-50%
Acceptance Rate
~90-130 days median
Time to First Decision
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 quick diagnostic reads your full manuscript against Int. J. Hydrog. Energy's criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.
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
Prep7,000-10,000 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 0Submit 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 weeksEditor 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 days2-3 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 weeksRevisions 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.
The pre-submission diagnostic runs a live literature search, scores your manuscript section by section, and gives you a prioritized fix list calibrated to Int. J. Hydrog. Energy. ~30 minutes.
Article Types
Research Article
7,000-10,000 wordsHydrogen technology development and performance
Review
10,000-15,000 wordsComprehensive hydrogen energy technology review
Short Communication
4,000-5,000 wordsFocused 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
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Primary Fields
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