Applied Surface Science Impact Factor

Applied Surface Science has grown steadily for five years. That's an unusual pattern in a JCR environment where many materials journals have seen IF declines. The growth reflects increasing research output in nanomaterials, surface engineering, and thin film technology, areas where this journal publishes extensively.

The title "Applied Surface Science" sets clear expectations. This journal wants research about what happens at surfaces and interfaces, and what you can do with that.

Research areas that fit:

• Surface characterization (XPS, AFM, SIMS, LEED, ellipsometry) with functional insight
• Thin film deposition and properties (PVD, CVD, ALD, sol-gel)
• Surface modification for specific applications (hydrophobicity, antibacterial, anti-corrosion)
• Catalysis where the surface mechanism is central to the finding
• Tribology and wear behavior at surfaces
• Adhesion and wettability
• Nanomaterials synthesis where surface properties drive function
• Corrosion science and protection strategies

What doesn't work:

• Bulk materials research where surfaces are incidental. If the paper is about mechanical properties of a bulk alloy and you ran one XPS spectrum, that doesn't make it surface science.
• Pure synthesis papers without surface characterization or functional testing.
• Theoretical and computational papers without experimental validation. Applied Surface Science, as the name suggests, expects experimental data. Computational papers need experimental collaboration or should go to journals like Physical Review B or Computational Materials Science.

A pattern to watch: Papers that characterize surfaces extensively (10 characterization techniques) but then test only one functional property. Reviewers in materials science increasingly want to see the functional application tied back to specific surface characteristics. "We modified the surface and here are 8 ways we measured it" isn't as valuable as "we modified the surface, measured these two properties, and showed that Property X caused Performance Y."

Applied Surface Science accepts approximately 50-60% of submitted manuscripts. This is high relative to selective journals but typical for Elsevier's high-volume materials journals. The journal publishes roughly 5,000-6,000 papers per year.

That acceptance rate reflects the journal's role as a broad venue for solid surface science, not a prestige gatekeeper. If the science is sound, the surface relevance is clear, and the data quality meets standards, acceptance is likely.

Review timeline:

• Editorial check: 1-2 weeks
• Peer review: 4-6 weeks (2 reviewers typical)
• First decision: 6-8 weeks total
• One revision round is standard
• Total submission to acceptance: 3-5 months

Elsevier's submission system (EviseConnect) is efficient. Reviewer selection is largely automated based on keyword matching, which means reviewers are usually technically appropriate but sometimes less expert in your specific application area.

Applied Surface Science offers optional open access at $3,670 (APC). Papers published under the subscription model are accessible to subscribers immediately and become open access after 12-24 months under Elsevier's embargo policy.

Elsevier has Read and Publish agreements with institutions in many countries. Authors at participating institutions can publish open access with no additional cost. The Netherlands, UK, Germany, and many other countries have Elsevier national agreements. Check whether your institution is covered before paying the APC.

Submit if:

• Your research focuses on surface phenomena, thin films, coatings, or surface modification
• You have solid experimental characterization and functional data
• You want a high-volume Q1 journal with fast turnaround and reasonable acceptance rates
• Your work is applied rather than fundamental (the journal name is not accidental)

Think twice if:

• You're aiming for highest possible impact (try ACS Nano IF 16.0, Advanced Materials IF 26.8, or Nature Materials IF 37.3)
• Your paper is primarily fundamental surface physics (try Physical Review Letters or Surface Science)
• Your research is energy materials focused (try Journal of Materials Chemistry A, IF 10.7, or Energy & Environmental Science, IF 13.0)
• The surface component is secondary to a bigger story in another field

Applied Surface Science publishes 5,000+ papers per year. That means citation competition is real. Your paper enters a pool that's large enough that mediocre papers also get published. Citation rates vary widely within the journal. Papers with clear applications and clean methodology tend to perform well. Papers that are technically solid but incremental relative to the field accumulate modest citations over time.

If impact over the next 5 years matters more than the speed of publication, consider the tradeoffs carefully. A selective acceptance in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces may generate more citations despite the lower acceptance rate at submission. For high-impact biology or chemistry work that uses surface science as a tool, journals like PNAS or Nature Communications may reach a broader audience.

Applied Surface Science at 6.9 is a practical Q1 journal for materials researchers focused on surfaces, interfaces, and thin films. The steady IF growth, high acceptance rate, fast review, and Elsevier infrastructure make it a dependable publication venue. It's not where you publish a landmark discovery (it will be underappreciated in the volume). It's where you publish solid, well-characterized work that advances surface science in a specific application area.

For a productivity-focused materials researcher who needs publications with reasonable turnaround and Q1 status, Applied Surface Science delivers consistently.

1. OpenAlex - Applied Surface Science: 68,010 works, h-index 272, 1,987,900 citations, APC $3,670
2. Elsevier Applied Surface Science author guidelines - scope, article types, characterization requirements
3. Elsevier transformative agreements - institutional open access coverage

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