Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy Formatting Requirements: Complete Author Guide

Applied Catalysis B uses an unstructured abstract.

• Word limit: 200 words maximum
• Structure: Single continuous paragraph, no subheadings
• Citations: Not permitted
• Abbreviations: Standard chemical abbreviations are fine; define others at first use

The abstract should identify the catalytic system, the application (photodegradation, CO2 reduction, water splitting, etc.), the synthesis method, the key performance metrics, and the mechanistic insight. Quantitative data is essential. "We report an efficient photocatalyst for dye degradation" tells the reader nothing useful. "We report a Z-scheme BiVO4/g-C3N4 heterojunction achieving 98.5% rhodamine B degradation in 30 minutes under visible light, with radical trapping experiments confirming superoxide and hydroxyl radical as the active species" is what editors want to see.

Applied Catalysis B requires a graphical abstract for all research articles. It's displayed prominently on ScienceDirect and significantly affects click-through rates.

Graphical abstract specifications:

• Dimensions: 531 x 1328 pixels (or equivalent aspect ratio)
• Resolution: 300 DPI minimum
• File format: TIFF, EPS, JPEG, or PDF
• Single panel image
• Minimal text
• Should convey the main concept or finding visually
• No title, author names, or journal branding

For environmental catalysis papers, effective graphical abstracts typically show the catalyst structure, the reaction being catalyzed, and a key performance metric or mechanism. Avoid trying to summarize every experiment. Focus on the single most important result or concept.

The graphical abstract is uploaded as a separate item during the submission process in Editorial Manager. It should not be embedded in the manuscript file.

Highlights are mandatory at Applied Catalysis B for research articles.

• Number: 3-5 bullet points
• Length: Maximum 85 characters per highlight, including spaces
• Content: Each highlight should state one specific finding or contribution

The 85-character limit is strictly enforced by the submission system. This is tighter than most authors expect. "Z-scheme BiVO4/g-C3N4 achieves 98.5% RhB degradation in 30 min" is already 62 characters. Plan your highlights carefully, and count characters before submitting.

Highlights appear on ScienceDirect alongside the abstract and graphical abstract. They're one of the first things readers see, so make them count.

Applied Catalysis B allows up to 10 figures per research article.

Figure formatting requirements:

Table formatting: Tables must be editable (Word table or LaTeX tabular). Every column needs a header. Horizontal rules at top, below header row, and bottom. No vertical rules. Footnotes below the table. Performance comparison tables are expected for catalysis papers and should include catalyst composition, conditions, performance metrics, and reference citations.

Color figures: Free for both online and print at Applied Catalysis B. No need to prepare grayscale versions.

Supplementary Material: No strict limit. Compile into a single file (Word or PDF). Additional characterization data, extended experimental details, and supporting figures go here. Label supporting figures as Fig. S1, S2, etc.

Applied Catalysis B uses the standard Elsevier numbered reference format.

In-text citations: Square brackets: [1], [2,3], [4-7]. Numbers in order of first appearance.

Reference list format:

[1] A.B. Author, C.D. Author, Title of article, Journal Abbreviation Volume (Year) Pages.

Key formatting details:

• Author names: Initials first, then last name (A.B. Smith)
• No semicolons between authors (commas)
• Journal titles abbreviated per ISO 4
• Volume number typically in bold
• Year in parentheses after volume
• DOI included when available

Example:

[1] Y. Zhang, L. Chen, W. Patel, Z-scheme BiVO4/g-C3N4 heterojunction for visible-light photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, Appl. Catal. B 298 (2026) 120543.

Elsevier style files for reference managers (EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley) handle the formatting automatically. Mendeley integrates particularly well with Elsevier journals since Elsevier owns Mendeley.

1. Highlights are mandatory, not optional. Many Elsevier journals list highlights as recommended. Applied Catalysis B treats them as required. The submission system will let you proceed without them, but the editorial assistant will send the manuscript back.

2. Performance comparison table is expected. Applied Catalysis B reviewers almost always request a table comparing your catalyst's performance with published alternatives. Include it proactively. The table should show catalyst, conditions (concentration, light source, pH, etc.), performance metrics, and reference.

3. Catalyst characterization standards. The journal expects thorough characterization: XRD, XPS, TEM/SEM, BET surface area, and UV-vis DRS at minimum for photocatalysts. For electrocatalysts, add electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Incomplete characterization is a common reason for desk rejection.

4. Mechanism investigation is important. Applied Catalysis B favors papers that go beyond performance testing to investigate the catalytic mechanism. Radical trapping experiments, in situ characterization, and DFT calculations add significant value. Papers that only report performance numbers without mechanistic insight are increasingly desk-rejected.

5. Stability and recyclability data. The journal expects stability testing for all catalysts. For photocatalysts, this means recycling experiments (typically 5 cycles minimum). For electrocatalysts, chronoamperometry or chronopotentiometry over extended periods. Presenting only initial activity without stability data is a red flag.

6. CRediT author statement. Required. Each author's contribution must be specified using the CRediT taxonomy (Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, etc.). This is submitted as a separate item during the submission process.

7. Data availability statement. Required. Choose from Elsevier's standard templates or write a custom statement describing data access.

8. Section numbering. Applied Catalysis B uses numbered sections (1. Introduction, 2. Experimental, 3. Results and Discussion, 4. Conclusions). Don't use unnumbered sections.

A standard Applied Catalysis B research article follows this order:

1. Title (specific to the catalyst and application)
2. Author names and affiliations
3. Abstract (200 words, unstructured)
4. Highlights (3-5 bullets, 85 characters each)
5. Graphical Abstract (separate file)
6. Keywords (4-6)
7. 1. Introduction
8. 2. Experimental (materials, synthesis, characterization methods, activity testing protocols)
9. 3. Results and Discussion (characterization results, catalytic performance, mechanism)
10. 4. Conclusions
11. CRediT Author Statement
12. Declaration of Competing Interests
13. Acknowledgments
14. Data Availability
15. References
16. Figure Legends
17. Supplementary Material (separate file)

The Experimental section should be detailed enough for reproduction. Include catalyst synthesis procedures with exact amounts, temperatures, and times. Characterization instrument details (manufacturer, model, settings). Activity testing conditions (light source specification, electrolyte composition, current density, etc.).

These cause the most delays at Applied Catalysis B:

• Missing highlights or exceeding the 85-character limit per highlight
• Missing graphical abstract
• No performance comparison table with existing catalysts
• Insufficient catalyst characterization data
• Missing stability/recyclability data
• Using ACS superscript references instead of Elsevier square bracket style
• Missing CRediT author statement
• Missing data availability statement
• Exceeding the 10-figure limit
• Unnumbered sections

For more on publishing in this journal, see our Applied Catalysis B submission guide and how to avoid desk rejection at Applied Catalysis B. For journal metrics, check the Applied Catalysis B impact factor page.

For the official guidelines, visit the Applied Catalysis B Guide for Authors.

In our pre-submission review work with manuscripts targeting Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy, four patterns generate the most consistent desk-rejection outcomes.

Activity data without comparison to published benchmark catalysts. Applied Catalysis B reviewers expect a performance comparison table listing turnover frequency (TOF), selectivity, yield, and reaction conditions against at least 3-5 literature catalysts under comparable conditions. Papers that report absolute activity numbers without this benchmarking step are returned with requests to contextualize performance. The guide for authors explicitly emphasizes "quantitative assessment of catalytic performance."

Stability and recyclability data absent or under-characterized. The journal's environmental focus means long-term catalyst durability is a gate criterion, not an optional supplement. Research articles on heterogeneous catalysts require time-on-stream stability data; recyclable catalysts require a minimum of 5 cycles with characterization of the spent catalyst. Studies that report only fresh-catalyst performance are consistently flagged in peer review.

Mechanistic interpretation absent. Applied Catalysis B expects papers to address the active species and reaction mechanism, not just describe activity outcomes. Manuscripts that omit kinetic studies, spectroscopic identification of intermediates, or DFT calculations in contexts where the community expects them are viewed as incomplete, particularly for novel catalyst systems.

Graphical abstract wrong format or absent. The journal requires a graphical abstract at 531 x 1328 pixels minimum (height x width), submitted as a single panel. Submitting an ACS-format TOC graphic (which uses a landscape 3.25" x 1.75" aspect ratio) instead of the Elsevier portrait-oriented graphical abstract is a consistent source of administrative returns.

A Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy submission readiness check evaluates manuscript structure, catalytic data benchmarking, and mechanistic completeness against these desk-rejection patterns before submission.