Announcements

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Yi Zhang has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of AppliedPhys (ISSN 3042-6553).

Name: Prof. Dr. Yi Zhang
Affiliations: National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, School of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Interests: MBE growth and interfacial controlling of novel 2D materials and heterostructures; ARPES studies on the electronic structures of 2D materials; construction, characterization, and engineering of novel correlation quantum states in 2D limits

Prof. Dr. Yi Zhang received his BS in physics from Peking University (2006) and his PhD in condensed mater physics from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Science (2011). He then joined Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and Stanford University as a postdoc from 2011 to 2015 and has served as a Professor at the School of Physics, Nanjing University, since 2015. His work in the MBE growth of novel 2D quantum materials has resulted in 70+ publications and recognition through the Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2023) and Elsevier Most Cited Chinese Researchers (2021-2025) awards. His research interests are the interfacial effects and correlated electron phenomena in 2D quantum materials and heterostructures, including novel magnetism, charge density waves, and topological phases.

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Yi Zhang, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views on the research area and open access publishing:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to take the role as its Editor-in-Chief?
   The main reason would be the well-matched scope of AppliedPhys to my research interest. I believe that as an Editor-in-Chief, I could provide my professional suggestions to the submitted manuscripts, which would greatly help the improvement of the manuscripts. The high quality of the papers can not only prompt the development of the applied physical research but also will make AppliedPhys a renowned platform for the exchange of good ideas and results in research.
2. What is your vision for the journal?
   I hope AppliedPhys will be an active research community that provides impartial and unbiased opportunities for the researcher to publish their original results and findings as fast as possible. I also hope AppliedPhys will be an unobstructed bridge that connects fundamental research in physics and practical and industrial applications and innovations.
3. What would you say to researchers who are considering the journal for their publications? What qualities do you consider essential for high-impact manuscripts in the journal?
   I promise that the impartiality and professionalism of our editors will help your manuscript meet the publication criteria. High-impact manuscripts should attract broad research interest with novel ideas, or present great potential in practical applications.
4. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?
   I hope the open access policy can develop healthily, sharing research frontiers with non-academic readers freely and thus attracting greater public attention and interest.
5. What does the future of this field of research look like, and what would you encourage young researchers entering it to look into?
   With the rapid development of quantum technology and quantum information, the conventional semiconductor and information technology industries are facing transformative innovation. More emerging novel materials with exotic properties and phenomena are making our lives better. Our researchers should not only put effort into expanding our cognitive boundaries in fundamental research but also keep exploring promising practical applications of physical frontiers.

Journal introduction:

Aims
AppliedPhys (ISSN 3042-6553) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal. It provides a forum for both original research in applied physics and the applications of physics in all branches of science, engineering, and technology. Our aim is to maintain the highest standards of scientific rigor while advancing the frontiers of applied physics. It publishes reviews, research papers and communications; other article types are also considered. There are therefore no restrictions on the maximum length of papers. Authors are encouraged to provide full experimental details so that the results can be reproduced. Electronic files presenting the full details of the experimental procedure, if unable to be published in a standard text-based format, can be uploaded alongside the paper as supplementary material.

Scope
AppliedPhys publishes papers on all aspects of applied physics. The topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Physics for Emerging Technologies:
   • Quantum physics and technologies;
   • Applied atomic and molecular physics;
   • Applied nuclear physics;
   • Plasma physics and technologies;
   • Ultrafast processes and nonequilibrium physics.
2. Condensed Matter Physics:
   • Semiconductor physics and devices;
   • Spintronics, superconductivity, and magnetism;
   • Dielectrics, ferroelectrics, and multiferroics;
   • Topological physics and phenomena;
   • Correlated electron system;
   • Insulator solid-state device.
3. Material Physics:
   • Low-dimensional materials and nanoscale materials;
   • Advanced quantum materials for applications;
   • Synthesis and characterizations of novel materials.
4. Photonics, Acoustics and Wave Engineering:
   • Lasers, optics and optical engineering;
   • Acoustics and ultrasonic technologies.
5. Energy, Thermal Sciences, and Applied Mechanics:
   • Energy-related materials, technologies and devices;
   • Thermo-mechanics and coupled multi-field mechanics;
   • Fluid mechanics;
   • Dynamics and vibration.
6. Physics in Practice:
   • Engineering physics and industrial physics;
   • Medical physics and biophysics;
   • Geophysics and applied techniques;
   • Space and astronomical technologies;
   • Applications in statistical physics;
   • Emerging, interdisciplinary, and other approaches related to applied physics.

We warmly welcome Prof. Dr. Yi Zhang as our Editor-in-Chief and wish him every success in his new position.

To further enhance the quality of AppliedPhys and the papers published in it, under the guidance of our Editors-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Mauro Tonelli and Prof. Dr. Yi Zhang, the journal has updated and revised its aims and scope. The original scope and the updated version are listed below:

Cluster Introduction:
Engineering physics is a broad and interdisciplinary field that connects fundamental physical principles with real-world engineering systems and applications. It focuses on understanding, modeling, and controlling physical processes across multiple scales, bridging core areas of physics with advanced engineering design and technology development. Research in Engineering Physics spans a wide range of topics, including applied physics, plasma physics, thermodynamics and thermal science, fluid mechanics, quantum systems and quantum technologies, nonlinear dynamics, magnetism and the study of magnetic materials. By integrating theoretical physics, computational modeling, and experimental techniques, this field supports innovation in energy systems, advanced materials, photonics, aerospace, micro- and nano-scale devices, and emerging quantum and plasma-based technologies.

MDPI’s cluster of journals in engineering physics is dedicated to advancing research across these interconnected and rapidly developing areas. Each journal in the cluster provides a peer-reviewed platform for original research articles, theoretical developments, advanced simulations, and innovative experimental studies. Emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary approaches that combine physics-based modeling with engineering applications, including applied physics, plasma science, thermofluid systems, quantum and computational physics, nonlinear dynamics, and magnetism. By promoting open access publishing and encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration, the cluster aims to accelerate the dissemination of high-impact research and foster innovation ranging from fundamental physical understanding to practical engineering solutions across diverse science and technology domains.

The six participating journals are as follows:

• AppliedPhys (ISSN 3042-6553) focuses on the application of physical science and technology. AppliedPhys is led by Editors-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Mauro Tonelli (Department of Physics, University of Pisa, Lungarno Antonio Pacinotti, 43, 56126 Pisa, PI, Italy) and Prof. Dr. Yi Zhang (National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, School of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China);
• Dynamics (ISSN 2673-8716) focuses on the broad field of all dynamic phenomena associated with physics. Dynamics is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Christos Volos (Laboratory of Nonlinear Systems, Circuits & Coplexity (LaNSCom), Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece);
• Fluids (ISSN 2311-5521) focuses on all aspects of fluid and its applications, including mathematical modeling, numerical simulation, and experiments. Fluids is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. D. Andrew S. Rees (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK);
• Magnetism (ISSN 2673-8724) focuses on magnetism and its related fields. Magnetism is led by Editor-in-Chief Dr. Gerardo F. Goya (Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragon (INA), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain);
• Plasma (ISSN 2571-6182) focuses on all aspects of plasma science, such as plasma physics, plasma chemistry and space plasma. Plasma is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Andrey Starikovskiy (NEQLab, Lewes, DE 19958, USA);
• Quantum Reports (ISSN 2624-960X) focuses on quantum science. Quantum Reports is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Lajos Diósi (1. Wigner Research Center for Physics, H-1121 Budapest, Hungary; 2. Institute of Physics and Astronomy, Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary).

Journal	Launch Year	Impact Factor (2025)	CiteScore (2025)	First Decision (Median Days)	Acceptance to Publication (Median Days)	APC (CHF)
	2025	-	-	18	7	1000
	2021	1.1	1.8	15.3	4.1	1200
	2016	2.1	4.1	17	2.9	1800
	2021	1.2	2.3	24.3	5.7	1200
	2018	3.1	3.9	17.5	3.7	1400
	2019	1.8	2.7	20.3	3.5	1400

MDPI’s Mission and Values:
As a pioneer of academic open access publishing, MDPI has been serving the scientific community since 1996. Our mission is to foster scientific exchange in all forms and across all disciplines. MDPI’s guidelines for disseminating open science are based on the following values and guiding principles:

• Open access—All of our content is published in open access and distributed under a Creative Commons License, providing free access to science and the latest research, allowing articles to be freely shared and their content reused with proper attribution;
• Timeliness and efficiency—Publishing the latest research through thorough editorial work, ensuring that authors receive a first decision in under 32 days and that papers are published within 7–10 days upon acceptance;
• Simplicity—Offering user-friendly tools and services in one place to enhance the efficiency of our editorial process;
• High-Quality Service—Supporting scholars and their work by providing a range of options, such as journal publication at mdpi.com, early publication at preprints.org, and conferences on sciforum.net, all aimed at maximizing the positive impact of research;
• Flexibility—Adapting and developing new tools and services to meet the changing needs of the research community, driven by feedback from authors, editors, and readers;
• Rooted in Sustainability—Ensuring the long-term preservation of published papers and supporting the future of science through partnerships, sponsorships, and awards.

By adhering to these values and principles, MDPI remains committed to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting open science practices.

Selected Topic and Special Issues:

“Recent Advances in Dynamic Phenomena—3rd Edition”
Guest Editor: Dr. Christos Volos
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026

“10th Anniversary of Fluids—Recent Advances in Fluid Mechanics”
Guest Editor: Prof. Dr. D. Andrew S. Rees
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026

“Beyond Conventional Magnetism: Modeling, Simulation, and Experiment”
Guest Editors: Dr. Roberto Zivieri and Dr. Israa Medlej
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026

“Processes in Atmospheric-Pressure Plasmas—2nd Edition”
Guest Editor: Dr. Dariusz Z. Korzec
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 September 2026

“Quantum Computing: Latest Advances and Prospects”
Topic Editors: Prof. Dr. Mingxing Luo, Prof. Dr. Ming Li and Dr. Xue Yang
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2027

Selected Articles:

“Bridging the Gap Between Extreme Environments and Precision Measurements: Recent Progress in Megagauss Physics”
by Shojiro Takeyama
AppliedPhys 2026, 2(2), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/appliedphys2020006

“Generalized Miller Formulae for Quantum Anharmonic Oscillators”
by Maximilian T. Meyer and Arno Schindlmayr
Dynamics 2025, 5(3), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/dynamics5030034

“The Impact of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in Engineering: Recent Advances and Applications”
by Rui A. Lima
Fluids 2025, 10(2), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids10020041

“Altermagnetism and Altermagnets: A Brief Review”
by Rupam Tamang, Shivraj Gurung, Dibya Prakash Rai, Samy Brahimi and Samir Lounis
Magnetism 2025, 5(3), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetism5030017

“Hybrid Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor: Production of Reactive Oxygen–Nitrogen Species in Humid Air”
by Dariusz Korzec, Florian Freund, Christian Bäuml, Patrik Penzkofer, Oliver Beier, Andreas Pfuch, Klaus Vogelsang, Frank Froehlich and Stefan Nettesheim
Plasma 2025, 8(3), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/plasma8030027 

“Improving the Solving of Optimization Problems: A Comprehensive Review of Quantum Approaches”
by Deborah Volpe, Giacomo Orlandi and Giovanna Turvani
Quantum Rep. 2025, 7(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/quantum7010003

Our portfolio of journals available for publishing up-to-date research in immediate open access format has been further expanded. In June 2026, eleven new journals released their inaugural issues and two transferred journals released their first issue as part of MDPI, covering the subjects of environmental & earth sciences, chemistry & materials science, public health & healthcare, engineering, medicine & pharmacology, and biology & life sciences. 

We extend our gratitude to the Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members who will shape the future course of these new journals. Each journal is dedicated to upholding strong editorial standards through a thorough peer review process, enabling impactful open access scholarship. 

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below. 

We would like to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. If you would like to create a new journal, you are welcome to send an application here or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com).

Peer review is the invisible foundation of academic progress. The 2025 MDPI Top Reviewers are some of the key experts who helped build it.

We are honored to recognize 1000 individuals from our global community of 210,000 reviewers across 67 countries and territories—chosen for their commitment to rigorous, constructive peer review and the consistency of their contributions throughout 2025.

The Top Reviewers provided constructive and impartial feedback that makes research stronger and more impactful, and we are grateful for it.

The names of these reviewers are listed below in alphabetical order by first name:

(Note: we respected all privacy preferences, with part of nominees opting for limited attribution.)

Conference: 20th International Conference on Nuclear Microprobe Technology and Applications
Conference date: 5–10 July 2026
Location: Miyagi, Japan

MDPI will attend the 20th International Conference on Nuclear Microprobe Technology and Applications (ICNMTA26) as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Miyagi, Japan, from 5 to 10 July 2026.

The conference provides an excellent opportunity for researchers, students, and professionals to present their work, exchange ideas, and foster collaborations in the field. In addition, the ICNMTA2026 conference is scheduled to be combined with an International School on Recent Advances and Best Practices for Quantum Science and Technology (4–5 July, 2026), which will enable young researchers and students to engage with professionals prior to the main conference.

List of topics:

• Technologies: Accelerator and microprobe;
• Technologies: Beam optics;
• Technologies: Single-ion and other beam technologies;
• Technologies: Multimodal imaging;
• Technologies: Detectors and instrumentation;
• Technologies: Data science and machine learning on microprobe;
• Applications: Material and device characterization;
• Applications: Micro- and nano-modification;
• Applications: Life sciences and radiation oncology;
• Applications: Cultural heritage and forensics;
• Applications: Quantum technology;
• Applications: Semiconductors;
• Applications: Energy;
• Applications: Radiation effects in space and nuclear;
• Applications: Environmental and interdisciplinary scientists of Topics.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• QuBS;
• AppliedPhys;
• Instruments;
• JNE;
• Micromachines;
• Optics.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at our booth and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://ion-beam.jp/ICNMTA2026/.

MDPI will be attending the 2026 Joint Annual Conference of Physical Societies in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (YGA 2026), which will take place from 14 to 18 July 2026 in Hong Kong, China. As a premier forum for physics professionals across the region, the conference offers a vital platform for thematic discussions and knowledge exchange, with the aim of fostering regional academic collaboration and bringing together researchers, students, and industry experts within the physics community.

The conference will cover the following:

• Atomic, molecular, optical and quantum physics;
• Condensed matter and statistical physics;
• Materials physics and engineering;
• Biophysics and soft matter;
• Astrophysics and astronomy;
• Scattering, particle, nuclear and plasma physics;
• Interdisciplinary and applied physics;
• Physics education.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Physics;
• Plasma;
• Particles;
• Universe;
• AppliedPhys;
• Magnetism;
• Condensed matter;
• Quantum Reports;
• Photonics;
• Fluids;
• Atoms.

We invite you to visit MDPI’s booth to meet our representatives, explore our latest initiatives, and discuss potential collaborations. For more details about the conference, please visit the official website: https://www.qebulamind.com/yga2026.

We look forward to connecting with you in Hong Kong.

Impact Factors measure how often articles in scientific journals are cited—specifically, the average number of citations received in a given year by articles published in that journal over the previous two years, as tracked in the Web of Science. For researchers, the number answers a practical question: how often is work published in this journal being picked up and built upon?

The metric is assigned to the journal as a whole, not to individual articles. A high Impact Factor tells you something useful about a journal's place in its field; it tells you less about any single paper within it.

For a complementary, article-level view, MDPI lists an Altmetric score on each article page. Where the Impact Factor tracks academic citations, the Altmetric score captures broader online attention: how an article is being shared, discussed, and referenced beyond the journal literature. Together, they offer two different ways of asking the same question: is this research reaching people?

With 2025 CiteScores from Scopus published a few weeks ago, Clarivate has now released this year's Journal Impact Factors in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR).

254 MDPI Journals Saw a Rise in Impact Factor

This year's JCR include 330 MDPI journals across a wide range of disciplines. Of these, 231 journals are placed in the top 50% (Q1 or Q2) of their respective subject categories, a result that spans fields as different as materials science, public health, environmental studies, and mathematics. 78 journals hold a top-quartile position (Q1), and 33 journals have a JIF of 5.0 or above.

• 330 journals earned a Journal Impact Factor (JIF)
• 29 journals earned a first JIF
• 254 journals had an increase in JIF
• 71% of ranked journals are in Q1 or Q2

For the full metrics on any MDPI journal, visit our Web of Science journals overview page or a journal's individual statistics page.

29 MDPI Journals Received Their First Journal Impact Factor

A first Impact Factor is a confirmation for an emerging journal. It marks the point at which a journal has been publishing long enough, and cited broadly enough, to enter the formal record of scientific influence. For the research communities those journals serve, it signals that the work being published is being read and built upon.

This year, 29 MDPI journals received a Journal Impact Factor for the first time, across a range of emerging and established research areas. Each represents years of editorial development and peer review—recognized in 2026 for the first time in the JCR.

This is also part of a longer shift in how science gets indexed. When the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) launched in 2016, 24 MDPI journals were included. By 2024 that number had grown to over 200, reflecting a broader change in the visibility of open access publishing within major citation tracking systems, not just at MDPI but across the sector.

Open Access with Impact

MDPI journals have received a total of 25.2 million citations in Web of Science. That figure matters less as a measure of MDPI's reach and more as a measure of what happens when research is freely available: it gets found, read, and used. Open access is only meaningful if the work actually travels and citations are one indicator that it does.

More than 4.6 million authors have published with MDPI. That breadth, across disciplines, institutions, and geographies, is what makes open access at this scale worth doing.

Thank You to the MDPI Scholarly Community

These results belong to the people who do the actual work: the Editors-in-Chief who set the standards, the Editorial Board Members and reviewers who hold them, and the authors who choose open access for their research. The numbers in the Journal Citation Reports are the downstream effect of decisions made at the desk, in the review, and at submission. Thank you for making them.

Data: 2025 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports™ (Clarivate, 2026)

The 2025 CiteScore metrics have been officially released by Scopus, and the results confirm what has become a consistent pattern for MDPI's journal portfolio: broad recognition across disciplines, steady improvement across the majority of ranked titles, and a growing presence at the top of subject category rankings.

CiteScore, published annually by Elsevier's Scopus database, measures the average citations received by articles published in a journal over a four-year window. As a complement to the Journal Impact Factor, which uses a two-year window based on the Web of Science database, CiteScore provides an alternative, long-term perspective on citation performance.

The 365 MDPI journals in Scopus (as of May 2026) are indexed across a wide range of subject categories, ensuring that open access research remains highly discoverable to a global readership through one of the most widely used platforms in academic publishing.

Data Summary (2025 CiteScores)

• New Additions: 41 MDPI journals received a CiteScore for the first time.
• Trending Upward: 234 of 322 previously ranked journals (73%) saw an increase in their CiteScore compared to last year.
• High Visibility: 314 journals (86%) rank in Q1 or Q2 in at least one subject category.
• Elite Performance: 42 journals rank in the top 10% of their subject categories.

Portfolio Performance

Among the 322 journals that held a CiteScore in 2024, 234 saw an increase this year. Quartile improvements outnumbered declines across the portfolio, with 52 journals moving to a higher quartile and only 20 seeing a decline. Furthermore, no previously ranked journals were removed. The 42 journals now ranked in the top 10% of their subject categories are drawn from a strong foundation of 178 journals holding a Q1 position.

With the large majority of our indexed portfolio ranked in the top half of research fields, researchers can confidently choose MDPI to meet funder mandates for high-quality, fully compliant Open Access publishing.

Exceptional Achievements for Foods and Life

Notably, both Foods and Life achieved a 99th percentile ranking in their respective subject categories for the 2025 CiteScores. This outstanding placement positions them as leading journals in their fields and highlights the high visibility and global impact of the open access research they publish.

Journal Metrics and Beyond

Journal-level metrics describe outlets, not individual articles. An increasing number of funders and institutions—including signatories of DORA and the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment—now explicitly encourage evaluation at the article level rather than by the journal in which research appears. MDPI supports this direction: we report CiteScore alongside the Journal Impact Factor, Journal Citation Indicator, and article-level usage data because no single number captures the full reach and contribution of published research.

Thank You

These results reflect the sustained effort of thousands of editors-in-chief, editorial board members, reviewers, and authors across every field MDPI serves. The metrics are the outcome; the work is yours.