ACS Catalysis Formatting Requirements: Complete Author Guide

The abstract follows standard ACS conventions.

• Word limit: 250 words maximum
• Structure: Unstructured single paragraph
• Citations: Not permitted
• Abbreviations: Only universally recognized ones (NMR, UV, XRD) are allowed without definition

Your abstract should state the problem, the approach, the primary results with quantitative data, and the broader implications. For catalysis papers, editors expect specific performance metrics in the abstract: turnover frequencies, selectivities, conversions, overpotentials, or whatever the relevant metrics are for your catalytic system. "We report a highly active catalyst" isn't useful. "We report a Pd/CeO2 catalyst achieving 98% selectivity for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol at 200 degrees C with a TOF of 0.45 per second" gives readers what they need.

ACS Catalysis doesn't require a separate graphical abstract, but the TOC graphic serves a similar purpose and is mandatory (see below).

Every ACS Catalysis submission must include a TOC graphic. This is a non-negotiable part of the ACS submission process, and it's one of the most visible elements of your published paper.

TOC graphic specifications:

• Dimensions: 3.25 inches wide by 1.75 inches tall (exact)
• Resolution: 300 DPI minimum
• File format: TIFF, EPS, or high-resolution PDF
• Single image only (no multi-panel layouts)
• Minimal text allowed (labels should be legible at 8 pt minimum)
• No title, author names, or journal name in the graphic
• Color is free for online and print

The TOC graphic appears in the journal's table of contents, in ACS search results, and on social media when the paper is shared. For catalysis papers, effective TOC graphics typically show the catalytic system, the reaction scheme, or a simplified mechanism. Don't try to represent every experiment. Pick the one result that captures the paper's contribution and illustrate it clearly.

Common problems with TOC graphics at ACS Catalysis include wrong dimensions (this is the most frequent issue), excessive text, low resolution, and graphics that are too complex to understand at thumbnail size. ACS Paragon Plus will check dimensions automatically, but content quality is reviewed by the editorial office.

ACS Catalysis follows ACS-wide figure formatting standards. There isn't a formal figure limit, though most Research Articles include 5 to 10 main figures.

Figure formatting requirements:

Table formatting: Use editable tables (Word table function or LaTeX tabular). Every column must have a header. Horizontal rules only at top, below header row, and at bottom. No vertical rules. Footnotes below the table use superscript lowercase letters.

Schemes: Catalysis papers frequently include reaction schemes. ACS Catalysis expects these to be drawn using ChemDraw or equivalent software, saved as high-resolution TIFF or EPS. Schemes are numbered separately from figures (Scheme 1, Scheme 2, etc.) and should have clear arrow labels showing reagents, conditions, and products.

Color figures: Free for both online and print at ACS Catalysis. ACS eliminated print color charges across most of its portfolio, so there's no reason to convert figures to grayscale.

ACS Catalysis uses the standard ACS reference system. If you've published in any ACS journal, this is the same format.

In-text citations: Superscript numbers in order of first appearance. Multiple citations grouped as superscript ranges (e.g., ^1-3^ or ^1,4,7^).

Reference list format:

(1) Author, A. B.; Author, C. D. Title of Article. Journal Abbreviation Year, Volume, Pages. DOI.

Key formatting details:

• Author names: Last name, initials with periods, no spaces between initials
• Semicolons separate authors (not commas)
• Journal titles abbreviated per CASSI (Chemical Abstracts Service Source Index)
• Year follows the journal abbreviation in italics
• Volume in bold, followed by comma and page range
• DOI required for all references with a DOI
• For books: Author, A. B. Title of Book; Publisher: City, Year.

Example journal article:

(1) Wang, L.; Chen, X.; Patel, R. K. Atomically Dispersed Iron Sites on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon for Selective CO2 Reduction. ACS Catal. 2026, 16, 4521-4533. DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.6b00123.

The achemso LaTeX package handles citation formatting automatically. For Word users, the ACS style files for EndNote, Zotero, and Mendeley produce correct output. Don't manually reformat references that have been generated by a reference manager unless there's a visible error.

1. Computational details go in a specific location. If your paper combines experiment and computation, ACS Catalysis expects computational methods in the Experimental Section (not in a separate Computational Methods section). DFT parameters, basis sets, functionals, and software versions should be clearly reported.

2. TOF and kinetic data reporting conventions. The journal has strong preferences about how catalytic performance data is reported. Turnover frequencies (TOF) must specify conditions (temperature, pressure, conversion level). Selectivity values must specify the denominator. Rate constants should include units and temperature.

3. Catalyst characterization standards. ACS Catalysis expects thorough characterization of catalytic materials. For heterogeneous catalysts, this typically means BET surface area, XRD, TEM/SEM, XPS, and elemental analysis at minimum. Missing characterization is a frequent reason for desk rejection.

4. Supporting Information as a single PDF. ACS prefers all Supporting Information compiled into one PDF, with separate files only for video, large datasets, or CIF files. Don't upload individual spectral images as separate files.

5. Author Information section. The Author Information section (not a standalone Acknowledgments section) is where corresponding author emails, ORCID iDs, author contributions, and conflict of interest disclosures go. This catches first-time ACS authors regularly.

6. No separate Conclusions section required. ACS Catalysis allows a Conclusions section but doesn't require one. Many papers end with a combined Results and Discussion section followed by the Author Information section. If you do include Conclusions, keep them brief and avoid restating results verbatim.

7. Cover art consideration. ACS Catalysis selects cover art from published papers. If you'd like your paper considered for the cover, prepare a cover art suggestion (different from the TOC graphic) and upload it during submission.

A standard ACS Catalysis Research Article follows this order:

1. Title (specific, descriptive, no unnecessary abbreviations)
2. Author names and affiliations (with superscript numbering)
3. Abstract (250 words max, unstructured)
4. Introduction (context, gap, and study objectives)
5. Experimental Section (or Computational Methods, if purely theoretical)
6. Results and Discussion (combined or separate)
7. Conclusions (optional but common)
8. Author Information (corresponding author, ORCID, contributions, conflicts, acknowledgments)
9. References
10. TOC Graphic (separate file upload)
11. Figures and Tables (at end or embedded)
12. Supporting Information (separate compiled PDF)

The Introduction should be 3-5 paragraphs long and end with a clear statement of what the study does. Don't write a mini-review in the Introduction. ACS Catalysis editors want you to get to the point quickly and save the literature context for what's directly relevant to your work.

These errors cause the most problems at ACS Catalysis:

• Missing or incorrectly sized TOC graphic (the most common issue)
• Using square bracket references instead of ACS superscript style
• Placing Acknowledgments as a standalone section instead of within Author Information
• Incomplete catalyst characterization data in the main text
• Reporting catalytic performance without specifying conditions (temperature, pressure, time)
• Uploading Supporting Information as multiple separate files
• Using full journal names in references instead of CASSI abbreviations
• Missing ORCID for corresponding authors

For more on publishing strategy at this journal, see our ACS Catalysis submission guide and our guide on how to avoid desk rejection at ACS Catalysis. If you're weighing journal options, the ACS Catalysis impact factor page has up-to-date metrics.

For the official formatting specifications, visit the ACS Catalysis author guidelines.

In our pre-submission review work with manuscripts targeting ACS Catalysis, four patterns generate the most consistent desk-rejection outcomes.

Catalytic activity reported without mechanistic interpretation. ACS Catalysis's author guidelines state that the journal "focuses on mechanistic studies that provide molecular-level understanding of catalytic systems." Studies that report turnover frequencies, selectivities, or yields for a new catalyst system without elucidating the mechanism, active site, or structure-activity relationship are desk rejected for scope. Catalyst screening papers that achieve high performance without identifying why the optimum system works are consistently returned. Reviewers specifically ask: "What new mechanistic understanding does this contribute beyond the activity data?"

Stability and recyclability data missing for heterogeneous catalysts. ACS Catalysis reviewers treat long-term stability as a required element for heterogeneous catalyst papers. Manuscripts reporting impressive initial TON or selectivity data without catalyst characterization after multiple cycles, or without leaching tests for metal catalysts in solution, generate major revision requests. The journal guidelines note that "practical relevance requires demonstration of catalyst durability." Papers presenting only 3 recycle runs without structural characterization of the spent catalyst are routinely asked for additional data.

TOC graphic not meeting ACS format. Like all ACS journals, ACS Catalysis requires a TOC graphic of 3.25 x 1.75 inches at 300 dpi minimum. The catalysis community frequently submits catalytic cycle diagrams or energy profiles that have been formatted for other journals (often wider aspect ratios). Rescaling these to ACS Catalysis dimensions distorts the diagram and fails the resolution check. The TOC graphic must be built for the ACS landscape format.

Homogeneous catalyst study without substrate scope or functional group tolerance. For new homogeneous catalyst systems, ACS Catalysis reviewers expect a substrate scope table demonstrating the catalyst's applicability across structurally diverse substrates, with limitations noted. A single-substrate proof-of-concept with extensive mechanistic characterization does not meet the standard unless the mechanism itself is the central contribution. The guidelines ask for work that demonstrates "broad utility" alongside mechanistic insight.

A ACS Catalysis submission readiness check evaluates mechanistic content, stability data, TOC graphic compliance, and substrate scope against these patterns.