《新碳材料》發表了關于有機物質的物理、化學和技術的原始研究論文，這些有機物質是產生芳香或四面體鍵合碳質固體的前體，以及可能由這些有機前體產生的材料。這些材料從金剛石和石墨到焦、半焦、中間相物質、碳、碳纖維、碳炔、富勒烯和碳納米管等。關于利用上述各種碳二次生產新型碳及復合材料(如碳碳復合材料)的論文也在該期刊的范圍之內。只有當研究與所得碳材料密切相關時，才會考慮有關有機物的論文。

New Carbon Materials publishes original research papers devoted to the physics, chemistry and technology of the organic substances that are precursors for producing aromatically or tetrahedrally bonded carbonaceous solids, and of the materials that may be produced from those organic precursors. These materials range from diamond and graphite through chars, semicokes, mesophase substances, carbons, carbon fibers, carbynes, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes, etc. Papers on the secondary production of new carbon and composite materials (for instance, carbon-carbon composites) from the above mentioned various carbons are also within the scope of the journal. Papers on organic substances will be considered only if the research has close relation to the resulting carbon materials.