Is Applied Surface Science a Good Journal? Impact, Scope, and Fit
Applied Surface Science (IF 6.9, Elsevier) is a mid-tier applied materials journal strongest for surface characterization with functional consequence. Here's how it compares and who should submit.
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Journal fit
See whether this paper looks realistic for Applied Surface Science.
Run the Free Readiness Scan with Applied Surface Science as your target journal and see whether this paper looks like a realistic submission.
Applied Surface Science at a glance
Key metrics to place the journal before deciding whether it fits your manuscript and career goals.
What makes this journal worth targeting
- IF 6.9 puts Applied Surface Science in a visible tier — citations from papers here carry real weight.
- Scope specificity matters more than impact factor for most manuscript decisions.
- Acceptance rate of ~~40-50% means fit determines most outcomes.
When to look elsewhere
- When your paper sits at the edge of the journal's stated scope — borderline fit rarely improves after submission.
- If timeline matters: Applied Surface Science takes ~~100-140 days median. A faster-turnaround journal may suit a grant or job deadline better.
- If open access is required by your funder, verify the journal's OA agreements before submitting.
How to read Applied Surface Science as a target
This page should help you decide whether Applied Surface Science belongs on the shortlist, not just whether it sounds impressive.
Question | Quick read |
|---|---|
Best for | Applied Surface Science published by Elsevier is a major journal for surface science and surface chemistry. |
Editors prioritize | Surface modification or characterization with demonstrated functional advantage |
Think twice if | Characterizing surface without demonstrating functional property improvement |
Typical article types | Research Article, Review, Short Communication |
Quick answer: Yes. Applied Surface Science is a solid mid-tier Elsevier journal (IF 6.9, Q1 in Materials Science) that publishes surface characterization with functional consequence. It is strongest when the surface or interface drives the result, not when it is just where the characterization happened.
Key metrics at a glance
Metric | Value |
|---|---|
Impact Factor (2024) | 6.9 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Open Access | Hybrid (OA option ~$3,400) |
Acceptance Rate | ~25-30% |
Typical First Decision | 2-4 weeks editorial, 6-10 weeks with review |
CiteScore (2024) | ~11.0 |
Quartile | Q1 Materials Science, Coatings and Films |
What makes Applied Surface Science editorially distinct
Applied Surface Science occupies a specific lane in materials publishing. It is not a general materials journal, and it is not a pure surface physics journal. The editorial filter asks one question above all others: does the surface or interface explain the result?
Papers that use XPS, AFM, or SEM as decorative characterization alongside a bulk-materials story will struggle here. Papers where surface chemistry, morphology, or interfacial behavior actually drives the observed performance change are the journal's sweet spot. That distinction is the single biggest reason manuscripts get desk-rejected.
The scope covers thin films, coatings, catalysis, corrosion, electrochemistry, biointerfaces, and nanostructured surfaces. But the common thread across all of those is that the surface science has to carry real explanatory weight.
How it compares to similar journals
Journal | IF (2024) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
Surface Science | 1.9 | Fundamental surface physics and chemistry |
Applied Surface Science | 6.9 | Surface characterization with functional application |
Langmuir | 3.7 | Physical chemistry of interfaces and colloids |
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces | 8.2 | Broad applied materials with interface component |
Thin Solid Films | 2.0 | Thin film deposition and properties |
Applied Surface Science sits above the fundamental surface-science journals and below the broadest applied-materials titles. If your paper is fundamentally about atomic-level surface physics, Surface Science is the more natural home. If the interface work is part of a broader materials or device story, ACS AMI or similar broad-scope materials journals may serve better.
The journal is strongest when the manuscript is more application-aware than a pure surface-science paper, but more surface-centered than a general materials submission.
Submit if
- The surface or interface mechanism is the engine of the paper, not a side characterization
- You have complementary surface techniques (XPS, AFM, SIMS, etc.) that together explain a functional outcome
- The work bridges surface chemistry, morphology, or structure to a measurable performance change
- Your audience is the surface-and-interface community, not a narrower catalysis or corrosion specialty audience
Journal fit
See whether this paper looks realistic for Applied Surface Science.
Run the scan with Applied Surface Science as the target. Get a manuscript-specific fit signal before you commit.
Think twice if
- The surface characterization is descriptive without explaining why performance changed
- The real story is about the bulk material or device, with surface data added for completeness
- A narrower journal (catalysis, corrosion, thin films, biointerfaces) would reach your true readers better
- The paper is mainly routine coating optimization without new surface-level insight
Frequently asked questions
Is Applied Surface Science a good journal?
Yes. Applied Surface Science is a well-established Elsevier journal with a 2024 impact factor of 6.9 and Q1 ranking in Materials Science, Coatings and Films. It is the primary broad-scope venue for surface and interface science with functional applications.
What is Applied Surface Science's acceptance rate?
Applied Surface Science has an acceptance rate of roughly 25-30%. The journal requires that the surface or interface mechanism is genuinely central to the research contribution, not incidental.
How long does Applied Surface Science review take?
First editorial decisions typically arrive within 2-4 weeks. Full peer review cycles average 6-10 weeks from submission to first decision, with revisions adding another 4-6 weeks.
What is the difference between Applied Surface Science and Surface Science?
Surface Science (IF 1.9) focuses on fundamental surface physics and chemistry at the atomic level. Applied Surface Science (IF 6.9) covers applied and functional aspects of surfaces and interfaces, including coatings, catalysis, corrosion, and thin films with clear application relevance.
Bottom line
Applied Surface Science is a good journal for manuscripts where the surface or interface is the scientific engine, not scenery. It rewards papers that combine real surface understanding with functional consequence. If your surface data explains the result rather than merely accompanying it, this journal is a strong target.
Not sure whether the surface story in your manuscript is strong enough? A Applied Surface Science scope and readiness check can help you check journal fit and evidence completeness before you submit.
Before you submit
A Applied Surface Science submission readiness check identifies the specific framing and scope issues that trigger desk rejection before you submit.
What Applied Surface Science actually evaluates
Applied Surface Science (Elsevier, IF ~6) publishes research on surface science, thin films, and interface phenomena. The journal does not accept papers that use surfaces as substrates without contributing to surface science understanding. The editorial bar is applied surface science, function and application at the surface level.
The journal has a high desk rejection rate for papers that are materials science rather than surface science. If your paper could be published without mentioning the surface, it does not fit this journal.
A Applied Surface Science desk-rejection risk check scores fit against the journal's editorial bar.
The complete pre-submission checklist
Before submitting to any journal, verify these five dimensions:
1. Scope alignment. Does your paper fit what this journal actually publishes? Read the 5 most recent papers in your area from this journal. If your paper looks like those papers, scope fit is likely. If it looks different in format, depth, or topic, reconsider.
2. Citation completeness. Are all major recent papers in your area cited? Missing a competitor's paper published in the last 12 months is a common trigger for reviewer complaints. The Applied Surface Science desk-rejection risk check checks every citation against 500M+ papers.
3. Figure quality. Do your figures support your claims with appropriate statistical annotations? Are scale bars, error bars, and controls clearly labeled? Vision-based analysis catches issues that text review misses.
4. Methodological rigor. Are sample sizes adequate? Are controls appropriate? Is the statistical analysis plan consistent with the registered protocol (if applicable)?
5. Journal-specific requirements. Does the journal require structured abstracts, word limits, specific reporting checklists (CONSORT, STROBE, ARRIVE), or data availability statements?
A Applied Surface Science desk-rejection risk check scores fit against the journal's editorial bar.
How to use this information strategically
A Applied Surface Science scope and readiness check gives you the verdict: does your paper fit this journal?
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Applied Surface Science is a well-established Elsevier journal with a 2024 impact factor of 6.9 and Q1 ranking in Materials Science, Coatings and Films. It is the primary broad-scope venue for surface and interface science with functional applications.
Applied Surface Science has an acceptance rate of roughly 25-30%. The journal requires that the surface or interface mechanism is genuinely central to the research contribution, not incidental.
First editorial decisions typically arrive within 2-4 weeks. Full peer review cycles average 6-10 weeks from submission to first decision, with revisions adding another 4-6 weeks.
Surface Science (IF 1.9) focuses on fundamental surface physics and chemistry at the atomic level. Applied Surface Science (IF 6.9) covers applied and functional aspects of surfaces and interfaces, including coatings, catalysis, corrosion, and thin films with clear application relevance.
Sources
- 1. Applied Surface Science journal homepage, Elsevier.
- 2. Applied Surface Science guide for authors, Elsevier.
- 3. Clarivate Journal Citation Reports (released June 2025).
Final step
See whether this paper fits Applied Surface Science.
Run the Free Readiness Scan with Applied Surface Science as your target journal and get a manuscript-specific fit signal before you commit.
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Where to go next
Start here
Same journal, next question
- Applied Surface Science Submission Guide: Format, Scope & Editor Tips
- How to Avoid Desk Rejection at Applied Surface Science
- Applied Surface Science Review Time: What Authors Can Actually Expect
- Applied Surface Science Acceptance Rate: What Authors Can Actually Use
- Applied Surface Science Impact Factor 2026: 6.9 - High-Volume Materials Journal
- Is Your Paper Ready for Applied Surface Science? The Surface Relevance Test
Supporting reads
Conversion step
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