Journal Of Physical Chemistry C AI Policy: ChatGPT and Generative AI Disclosure Rules for JPCC Authors
Journal of Physical Chemistry C (ACS) requires AI disclosure under the publisher rules. AI cannot be an author. This guide covers where to disclose, what to disclose, and the consequences of non-compliance for JPCC submissions.
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Quick answer: The Journal Of Physical Chemistry C AI policy follows the publisher's rules calibrated to physical chemistry research on nanomaterials and surfaces with mechanistic depth and quantified spectroscopic characterization submissions.
AI tools can be used for manuscript preparation, but their use must be disclosed in the Acknowledgments section, with fuller details in the Methods or another appropriate section for more substantial use. AI cannot be listed as an author of any JPCC paper. For graphics, ACS asks for a brief description of AI use in the figure caption, and AI-generated images should not be used within Table of Contents graphics.
Journal of Physical Chemistry C (ACS) editors can treat undisclosed substantive AI use as a publication-ethics problem, with the response depending on the publisher policy, the timing, and whether the scientific record is affected.
Run the JPCC submission readiness check which includes an automated AI-disclosure audit, or work through this guide manually. Need broader context? See the JPCC journal overview.
The Manusights JPCC readiness scan. This guide tells you what the ACS AI policy asks of Journal of Physical Chemistry C (ACS) authors. The scan tells you whether your manuscript has the disclosure language required by the current journal policy before you submit.
We have reviewed manuscripts targeting Journal of Physical Chemistry C (ACS) and peer venues; the named patterns below are patterns we check against the publisher's public AI policy and common editorial-screening risks. 60-day money-back guarantee. Your manuscript is not used for model training, and access is limited to the review workflow.
Editorial detail (for desk-screen calibration). Verify the current Editor-in-Chief and handling-editor list on the journal's editorial-team page before quoting any name in a submission cover letter. Submission portal: ACS Publishing Center. Manuscript constraints: abstract of 100-200 words; the author guidelines publish no main-text word cap for Articles.
We reviewed the publisher's AI policy framework against current JPCC author guidelines (accessed 2026-10-09); evidence basis includes both publicly documented the publisher policy and our internal anonymized submission corpus. The applicable abstract length at JPCC is 100-200 words, and the author guidelines publish no main-text word cap for Articles.
The author guidelines publish no main-text word limit for Articles (check the article-type-specific lengths in the latest author guidelines). The named editorial-culture quirk: JPCC reviewers expect mechanistic spectroscopic characterization; preliminary spectroscopic claims without full vibrational or electronic-structure assignment extend revision.
What does Journal of Physical Chemistry C (ACS)'s AI policy require?
JPCC authors should check four policy areas under the publisher's current AI framework before submission:
Rule 1: Disclose every AI tool used in manuscript preparation
Authors should document substantive generative-AI use with the tool name, version or access date, and how it was used. Use the disclosure location specified by the ACS policy, which is the Acknowledgments section, with fuller details in the Methods or another appropriate section for more substantial use, rather than burying it in the cover letter. Examples that REQUIRE disclosure at JPCC:
- For JPCC-targeted manuscripts addressing physical chemistry research on nanomaterials and surfaces with mechanistic depth and quantified spectroscopic characterization: using ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or similar to draft, polish, or edit manuscript text passing through JPCC editorial review
- For JPCC submissions: using AI to generate boilerplate text for limitations, ethics statements, or JPCC-specific response-to-reviewers letters that cite the publisher's framework
- For Journal of Physical Chemistry C (ACS) submissions: using AI to translate manuscript text into English from another language, which is AI use for text generation and should be disclosed
- For JPCC literature reviews: using AI for citation discovery or summarizing prior JPCC work; the publisher's policy applies regardless of citation context
- For JPCC analytical pipelines: AI-assisted code generation requires Methods or code disclosure under the current publisher policy, particularly when code affects analysis
Examples that do NOT require AI disclosure:
- At JPCC, using grammar/spell checkers (Word) for line-level edits, when used without generative AI features for new manuscript content
- For JPCC submissions, using reference managers (Zotero, EndNote) for citation formatting against the publisher's style guide
- For Journal of Physical Chemistry C (ACS) statistical analysis, using established statistical software (R, Stata, SPSS) where the algorithm is the established tool documented in JPCC's methodological norm, not a generative AI
Rule 2: AI cannot be an author
No AI tool can be listed as an author of a JPCC paper, particularly for physical chemistry research on nanomaterials and surfaces with mechanistic depth and quantified spectroscopic characterization-class submissions. Under the publisher's policy: authorship requires the ability to take responsibility for the content, agree to be accountable for accuracy, and to consent to publication. AI tools cannot do any of these in JPCC's editorial framework. This rule is consistent across all the publisher-published journals.
Rule 3: Describe AI use in graphics, and keep AI images out of TOC graphics
ACS asks authors to include a brief description of AI use in the figure caption to explain to readers how the image was created, so an AI-assisted conceptual diagram (for example, a schematic of a hypothesized mechanism) needs that caption disclosure. AI-generated images should not be used within Table of Contents graphics, because they have no caption immediately adjacent to the image where the use of AI can be explained. For journal cover art, AI image generation is permitted but must be disclosed in the cover art caption, naming the specific tool or tools used and briefly describing how they were used.
Rule 4: Do not put manuscripts into AI tools when you review
ACS journals ask for the expert opinion of the consulted reviewers and expect that those opinions are solely the reviewer's. Disclosing any part of a submission or of the peer review report to a text generation service or any other third-party tool is a breach of confidentiality and a violation of the ACS Ethical Guidelines, so authors who also review for ACS journals should follow this rule.
How does Journal of Physical Chemistry C (ACS)'s AI policy compare to peer journals?
Rule | JPCC stance | the publisher default | Policy basis |
|---|---|---|---|
AI authorship | Prohibited | Prohibited | Authorship/accountability |
Disclosure location | Acknowledgments section, with fuller details in Methods for substantial use | Acknowledgments section, with fuller details in Methods for substantial use | ACS AI policy, Transparency |
AI-generated figures | Described in the figure caption; not used in TOC graphics | Described in the figure caption; not used in TOC graphics | ACS AI policy, Graphics |
Reviewer AI use | Manuscripts must not be shared with AI tools | Manuscripts must not be shared with AI tools | Peer-review confidentiality |
Enforcement | Editorial discretion: AI use judged too extensive can lead to rejection or a request for revision | Editorial discretion: AI use judged too extensive can lead to rejection or a request for revision | ACS AI policy, Editorial Discretion |
Source: ACS AI policy (accessed 2026-10-09) plus JPCC author guidelines.
What does AI disclosure look like in a JPCC manuscript?
Acceptable disclosure language for JPCC submissions:
"For our physical chemistry research on nanomaterials and surfaces with mechanistic depth and quantified spectroscopic characterization-focused manuscript at JPCC, we used ChatGPT-4o (OpenAI, version dated October 2024) to polish English-language phrasing in the Introduction and Discussion sections. We did not use generative AI for data analysis, figure generation, or substantive manuscript content. All authors reviewed and edited the AI-assisted text and take responsibility for the final manuscript."
Or, for AI-assisted code:
"For this JPCC submission addressing physical chemistry research on nanomaterials and surfaces with mechanistic depth and quantified spectroscopic characterization, initial Python code for the Bayesian regression analysis was drafted with Claude 3.5 Sonnet (Anthropic, version dated December 2024). All code was reviewed, modified, and validated by the authors before use; the final version is available at [repository URL]. Statistical inference was performed using the established R package brms."
What falls short of the ACS policy:
- For JPCC addressing physical chemistry research on nanomaterials and surfaces with mechanistic depth and quantified spectroscopic characterization: "AI tools were used in manuscript preparation." Too vague, because ACS asks for a description of when and how the tools were used; name the specific tool, its version, and the specific use case
- "We acknowledge AI assistance in the Acknowledgments." (The Acknowledgments section is the right location, but the statement still has to describe when and how the tools were used.)
- "ChatGPT helped write this paper." (Insufficient detail on use case)
- No disclosure when AI was used (publication-ethics violation)
Desk-screen risks we see before submission
For JPCC-targeted manuscripts, the patterns below are common AI-policy risk areas to check against the publisher's current guidance before submission. Of the manuscripts we screened in 2025 targeting JPCC and peer venues, the patterns below are the ones we flag most often.
AI disclosure missing despite obvious AI-assisted phrasing. Substantive AI-assisted drafting without a required disclosure can trigger an editorial query. Check whether your manuscript reads as AI-assisted
AI disclosure placed in the wrong manuscript location. ACS asks for AI disclosure in the Acknowledgments section, with fuller details in the Methods or another appropriate section for more substantial use, so that readers can see when and how the tools were used.
Misplaced disclosures can trigger an avoidable submission query. Check whether your AI disclosure is in the right section
Generic disclosure language without tool name and version. ACS asks for a description of when and how the tools were used, so naming the specific tool, its version (or access date), and the use case is the safest approach. "AI tools were used" without specifics is unlikely to meet that standard. Check whether your AI disclosure has the required specificity
What is the JPCC AI-policy compliance timeline?
Stage | Duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
Author drafts AI disclosure | 30-60 minutes | Identify all AI use, gather tool versions, write Methods paragraph |
Co-author review of disclosure | 1-2 days | All authors confirm the disclosure is complete and accurate |
Editorial desk-screen check | 1-2 weeks | JPCC's editorial team checks the disclosure against the manuscript when policy review is triggered |
Editorial query (if disclosure incomplete) | 5-10 days | Editor requests revision before sending to peer review |
Reviewer AI-disclosure check | During peer review | Reviewers verify the disclosure matches the manuscript style |
Source: Manusights internal review of JPCC-targeted submissions, 2025 cohort.
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Submit If
- For Journal of Physical Chemistry C (ACS) submissions on physical chemistry research on nanomaterials and surfaces with mechanistic depth and quantified spectroscopic characterization: the manuscript documents substantive generative-AI use with the tool name, version or access date, specific use case, and disclosure location required by the current journal policy
- For JPCC: no AI tool is listed as an author; all listed authors meet authorship criteria and take responsibility for the final manuscript
- For Journal of Physical Chemistry C (ACS): figures and schematics representing original research data come from the actual research, with any AI-assisted image or figure workflow checked against the current journal image policy
- For JPCC submissions: the disclosure makes clear that human authors reviewed the AI-assisted material and take responsibility for the final manuscript
Think Twice If
- The manuscript contains substantive AI-assisted drafting but no disclosure; this can trigger an editorial query if the journal requires disclosure for that use case.
- The AI disclosure is placed in a section the current journal policy does not recognize.
- The disclosure language is generic without naming the tool, version or access date, and use case; journals may query or return manuscripts with this gap.
- Any figure, schematic, or image workflow used generative AI without being checked against the current journal image policy.
Manusights submission-corpus signal for Journal of Physical Chemistry C (ACS).
Of the manuscripts our team screened before submission to JPCC and peer venues in 2025, the AI-policy compliance gap most consistent across the cohort is generic disclosure language without tool-version specificity. In our analysis of anonymized JPCC-targeted submissions, manuscripts with complete AI disclosure (tool name, version, specific use case, all-author confirmation) clear desk-screen at the same rate as manuscripts without AI use; manuscripts with incomplete or missing disclosure trigger editorial queries that add 1-2 weeks to the timeline.
Journal of Physical Chemistry C (ACS) follows the publisher's public AI policy, but authors should verify the current journal page before submission because AI-use rules, disclosure locations, and image guidance continue to change.
What can JPCC authors do to stay ahead of AI policy changes?
The publisher's AI policy framework continues to evolve as 2026 brings new ICMJE recommendations, COPE guidance refinements, and journal-specific clarifications. JPCC authors targeting physical chemistry research on nanomaterials and surfaces with mechanistic depth and quantified spectroscopic characterization submissions should track three signals throughout 2026:
Check the ACS AI policy page before you submit. The ACS policy page carries a "Last updated" date (December 13, 2024 when we read it on 2026-10-09), so confirm that the wording quoted on this page is still current.
Field-specific clarifications for physical chemistry research on nanomaterials and surfaces with mechanistic depth and quantified spectroscopic characterization. Different research domains see different AI use patterns. The ACS policy does not draw a line between substantive and ancillary use: it says all use of AI tools should be disclosed within the submission. Authors who err on the side of more disclosure rather than less avoid the publication-ethics gray zone.
Reviewer rules. ACS journals ask for the reviewer's own expert opinion and treat sharing a submission or a review report with an AI tool as a breach of confidentiality.
- Manusights internal preview corpus (2025 cohort)
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, with disclosure. Journal of Physical Chemistry C (ACS) follows the ACS AI policy. The use of AI tools for text or image generation should be disclosed in the Acknowledgments section with a description of when and how the tools were used, and more substantial use should be described in full in the Methods or another appropriate section. AI tools cannot be listed as authors, the human authors are responsible for all submitted content, and an editor may decide that AI use is too extensive, which can lead to rejection or a request for revision.
Disclose AI use in the Acknowledgments section with a description of when and how the tools were used; for more substantial use, give full details in the Methods or another appropriate section of the manuscript. Naming the tool, its version or access date, and the use case is the safest way to give that description, and the authors remain responsible for the content.
Only with disclosure, and not in the TOC graphic. ACS asks for a brief description of AI use in the figure caption so readers know how the image was created. AI-generated images should not be used within Table of Contents graphics, because they have no caption next to the image where the use of AI can be explained. For journal cover art, AI image generation is permitted but must be disclosed in the cover art caption.
JPCC can treat undisclosed substantive AI use as a publication-ethics problem. The response depends on the publisher policy, the timing, and whether the scientific record is affected.
The ACS AI policy is a publisher-level policy, and the disclosure wording quoted on this page appears in each ACS journal's author guidelines. It covers AI authorship, disclosure, graphics, editorial discretion, and AI use by peer reviewers.
Sources
- ACS AI Best Practices and Policies (accessed 2026-10-09)
- JPCC author guidelines (accessed 2026-10-09)
- ICMJE recommendations on AI use (accessed 2026-05-08)
- COPE guidance on AI in research publication (accessed 2026-05-08)
Free guide
AI cannot be an author. None of the 49 policies we checked allows it.
Not a co-author, not an acknowledged contributor with a byline, not "with assistance from". What they do require is a disclosure, and the wording matters. The guide has the statement filled in, with what each publisher asks for beside it.
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