ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Review Time: Time to First Decision and Publication

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces is one of the most widely read journals in materials science, covering surfaces, interfaces, coatings, nanomaterials, and functional materials across chemistry, physics, and engineering. With a 2024 JIF of 8.2 (JCR 2024), it sits solidly in Q1 and handles a large submission volume, typically several thousand manuscripts per year.

That volume means the editorial office runs a structured, efficient process. The timeline is predictable once you know what to expect.

Timeline at a glance

Desk rejections typically land in 1-2 weeks. If you're still waiting at week 10 with no update and no "under review" status change, something unusual is happening.

How ACS AMI handles submissions

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces uses a traditional editorial structure: submissions go to a handling editor (usually an associate editor with relevant expertise) who decides whether to send the paper to reviewers or reject at the desk. ACS uses its own submission portal, ACS Paragon Plus.

When you submit, you'll typically get an acknowledgment within a few days. After technical checks pass, the manuscript moves to editorial review. If the editor thinks it fits scope and shows sufficient novelty, it goes to 2-3 external reviewers.

ACS is generally good about enforcement of reviewer deadlines. Reviewers are typically given 3-4 weeks. Late reviewers get reminders, and editors usually find replacements when reviewers go silent.

What slows review at ACS AMI

Reviewer availability. Materials science covers a very broad range of specialties. If your work sits at an unusual intersection (say, organic electrochemistry and flexible electronics with a machine learning component), finding appropriate reviewers takes longer. Papers at niche intersections sometimes take 10-12 weeks to first decision.

Holiday periods. ACS journals slow during late December, early January, and to a lesser extent around summer conferences. Submitting just before ACS national meetings (typically March and August) can mean delays as potential reviewers are traveling.

Revision quality. A revision that partially addresses reviewer concerns or argues with reviewers extensively often triggers a second round of review, adding 6-10 weeks. A clean revision that responds point-by-point tends to get a faster post-revision decision.

High volume periods. ACS AMI typically sees submission spikes at the end of funding cycles (September-October and March-April in the US). Processing times can stretch during peak periods.

What authors can control

You can't control how long reviewers take. You can control a few things that reduce friction:

Submit on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Editorial offices process new submissions faster midweek. Friday submissions sometimes sit until Monday before assignment.

Request specific reviewers. ACS allows you to suggest 3-5 reviewers. Good suggestions with clear rationale actually get used and can speed assignment when the editor doesn't have to scout from scratch.

Exclude reviewers with conflicts. If you know a direct competitor who would bias the review, exclude them. Editors appreciate this and it prevents a drawn-out process if a reviewer is later found to have a conflict.

Write a clear cover letter. State the specific problem addressed, why it's not solved in the literature, and why ACS AMI readers care. An editor deciding desk vs. review in 10 minutes needs this.

Submit polished figures. Low-resolution or unclear figures sometimes trigger a revision just for image quality. Submit at 300+ DPI and size figures appropriately.

When to worry

Most delays resolve with a simple inquiry. Worry if:

• You've passed 12 weeks with no status update and no response to an inquiry
• Your status has been "Under Review" for over 10 weeks (suggests reviewer problems)
• Your revision was submitted more than 6 weeks ago with no update

In these cases, a direct email to the editorial office with your manuscript ID is appropriate. Include a brief, professional note about the timeline and request an update. Do not cc multiple editors or send repeated messages within a few days.

Faster alternatives if speed matters

If you're working against a grant deadline or patent filing, consider these alternatives with similar scope and faster typical turnaround:

• ACS Nano (JIF 15.8): Faster if the work is strongly nanostructure-focused. More selective but fewer review delays.
• Nanoscale (Royal Society of Chemistry, JIF 5.8): Faster average turnaround, slightly lower bar for nanomaterial applications.
• Applied Physics Letters (JIF 3.9): Very fast for device and materials physics papers. First decision often 4-6 weeks.
• Materials Today (JIF 17.0): High impact for exceptional results, but similarly timed to ACS AMI.

For the full journal overview, see the ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces journal page. If you're close to submission, our pre-submission review service helps you check scope fit and reviewer-readiness before you send.

Impact factor source: Clarivate Journal Citation Reports, JCR 2024.