Analytical Letters is an international medium for the rapid publication of original research papers, accelerated articles, or mini-reviews on important developments in all areas of analytical chemistry, including electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, separations, and spectroscopy. Papers are welcomed that consider fundamental developments, new or improved instrumentation and sensors, and applications of analytical chemistry in all areas that include biological and clinical science, engineering and instrumentation science, environmental chemistry and analysis, geochemistry, materials science, nanotechnology, and physics.

Types of papers - Analytical Letters encourages the submission of papers as original research papers, accelerated articles, or as mini-reviews.

Original research papers.
Papers that report novel, significant fundamental developments in analytical science are encouraged for submission. The submission of work that describes innovative and improved instrumentation and sensors for chemical analysis is welcomed. It is also encouraged to submit manuscripts that describe significant applications in all areas of analytical science, including biological and clinical science, engineering and instrumentation science, environmental chemistry and analysis, geochemistry, materials science, nanotechnology, and physics.

Classical analytical methods, such as chemometrics, solvent extraction, spectrophotometry, spectrofluorimetry, and titrimetry, are well-established and considered to be routine methods of analysis. Hence, papers in these areas should clearly demonstrate significant advantages over conventional methods, or illustrate a significant application of the methodology. Manuscripts that employ established analytical methodology to simple sample matrices, such as pharmaceutical samples, are discouraged unless significant advances are demonstrated. Reports of routine sample analysis are similarly discouraged without significant analytical utility or application. Papers that focus upon reports of fundamental constants, such as equilibrium or stability constants, are not appropriate without clear demonstration of the significance of the measurements upon analytical science.

Original research papers are reviewed based upon the novelty of the scientific work presented, the significance compared to existing instrumentation and methods, and the practicality of the approach. Manuscripts should cite relevant literature, including the authors’ own work, and discuss how the new work relates to existing analytical methods. Method development papers should include analytical figures of merit, interference studies, and validation by a standard method or a certified reference material. Where appropriate, statistical treatment of the results should be provided.

Accelerated articles
Accelerated articles are designed to rapidly publish particularly significant original research findings in analytical science in the areas discussed above. Accelerated articles will be reviewed by one referee in order to ensure rapid consideration of the work. Because these papers will only be reviewed by one referee, the quality and significance must be clearly evident. Authors are encouraged to designate papers for consideration as accelerated articles, but the final decision will be up to the Editor-in-Chief.

Mini-reviews
Mini-reviews are designed to highlight recent and most relevant advances in any area of analytical chemistry. They should not be comprehensive treatises, but rather highlight significant developments in fundamental analytical science, instrumentation and sensors, methodology, or application in any of the scientific areas described above. Minireviews are reviewed using the criteria described above for original research papers.