Journal Guide
Publishing in ACS Nano: Fit, Timeline & Submission Guide
Nanomaterials that work: from synthesis to real applications
Should you submit here?
Submit if aCS Nano values novel nanostructures with unique properties or elegant synthesis approaches. Be careful if many papers thoroughly characterize a new nanoparticle but show no exceptional properties and no application.
Best fit if
ACS Nano values novel nanostructures with unique properties or elegant synthesis approaches
Not ideal if
Many papers thoroughly characterize a new nanoparticle but show no exceptional properties and no application
Also compare
16.0
Impact Factor (2024)
~8.4%
Acceptance Rate
31.9 days median to first decision with peer review
Time to First Decision
Submission guide
ACS Nano Submission Guide: Scope, Format & Tips (2026)
ACS Nano submission guide covering scope, Paragon setup, editorial fit, and what nanoscience editors screen before review.
Journal assessment
Is ACS Nano a Good Journal? What Nanoscience Researchers Need to Know
ACS Nano is the ACS flagship for interdisciplinary nanoscience. Here's when the nanoscale makes your paper ACS Nano material, and when Nano Letters, Nature Nanotechnology, or Advanced Materials is the better fit.
Desk rejection
How to Avoid Desk Rejection at ACS Nano
What ACS Nano editors look for before peer review, and the gaps that make a nanomaterials paper feel impressive but still unready.
What ACS Nano Publishes
ACS Nano published by the American Chemical Society is the premier journal for nanoscale science and engineering. With JIF 16.0 and Q1 ranking in Nanoscience & Nanotechnology and Materials Science, ACS Nano emphasizes novel nanomaterials with clear applications. The journal publishes research on synthesis, characterization, and application of nanomaterials across chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering. Critically: ACS Nano values research showing functional nanomaterials, not just characterization. Pure material science without demonstrated application or exceptional properties is less competitive. The journal seeks papers proving that nanomaterials enable new capabilities or significantly outperform bulk alternatives.
- Nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, optical and electronic properties
- Carbon nanomaterials: graphene, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes
- Nanocomposites: polymer nanocomposites, hybrid materials
- Biomedical applications: drug delivery, imaging, therapeutics
- Catalysis: nanoparticle catalysts, surface chemistry
- Electronics and photonics: nanocircuits, light-emitting devices
- Energy applications: batteries, supercapacitors, solar cells
- Environmental applications: water treatment, sensing, remediation
Editor Insight
“ACS Nano publishes nanomaterials that work. We seek papers demonstrating novel nanostructures with exceptional properties or enabling new applications. Pure material characterization without functional advantage is less competitive. The best papers combine elegant synthesis with rigorous characterization and clear application value.”
What ACS Nano Editors Look For
Novel nanomaterial synthesis or exceptional properties
ACS Nano values novel nanostructures with unique properties or elegant synthesis approaches. Show why your nanomaterial is different. Is the synthesis novel? Do the nanoparticles have exceptional optical, electronic, or mechanical properties? What advantage does nanoscale provide over bulk?
Rigorous characterization of nanomaterial structure and properties
Thorough characterization is essential. Use transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for structure, X-ray diffraction (XRD) for crystal structure, and appropriate spectroscopy for optical or electronic properties. Simple material characterization without exceptional findings is less competitive.
Clear application demonstration with superior performance
Beyond characterization, demonstrate that your nanomaterial enables new capabilities or significantly outperforms alternatives. Functional testing in intended application (drug delivery, catalysis, sensing, etc.) with quantitative performance metrics strengthens papers significantly.
Mechanistic understanding of nanoscale effects
Explain why nanoscale matters. How do size-dependent properties enable application? What physical or chemical mechanisms drive nanomaterial performance? Understanding the 'why' behind nanomaterial behavior is more impactful than empirical observation alone.
Scalability and practical feasibility
Demonstrate that your nanomaterial synthesis can scale beyond lab quantities. Address reproducibility, cost, and scale-up challenges. Nanomaterials requiring exotic conditions or extreme cost lack practical impact.
Why Papers Get Rejected
These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past ACS Nano's editorial review:
Nanomaterial characterization without application or exceptional properties
Many papers thoroughly characterize a new nanoparticle but show no exceptional properties and no application. ACS Nano values functional nanomaterials. Show why nanoscale matters: superior performance in application, unique optical/electronic properties, or enabling new capabilities.
Application testing showing marginal advantage over bulk
Demonstrating that a nanoparticle works slightly better than bulk alternative is weak. Exceptional performance (orders of magnitude better, enabling new function, or solving previously intractable problem) is required for competitive papers.
Incomplete characterization or inconsistent data
ACS Nano has high standards for data quality. TEM images must show clear structure, XRD must be properly indexed, spectroscopy must be correctly interpreted. Sloppy characterization or data inconsistencies are major revision requests.
Synthesis requiring exotic conditions or prohibitive cost
Nanomaterials synthesized only under extreme conditions (high pressure, exotic solvents, precious reagents) or at prohibitive cost have limited practical impact. Discuss synthesis scalability and cost. Practical feasibility matters.
Ignoring mechanism and just reporting empirical observations
Papers observing that nanomaterials work without explaining why are less impactful. Understanding nanoscale mechanisms - size-dependent properties, interface effects, quantum effects - significantly strengthens papers.
Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?
The Free Readiness Scan reads your full manuscript against ACS Nano's criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.
Insider Tips from ACS Nano Authors
Biomedical and energy applications have highest impact potential
Papers demonstrating nanomaterials for drug delivery, medical imaging, battery chemistry, or solar applications often receive strong reception. Positioning research at intersection of nanomaterials and high-impact application area increases visibility.
TEM images showing novel nanostructure are highly valued
High-quality transmission electron microscopy images revealing new nanostructure or unexpected morphology significantly strengthen papers. ACS Nano readers expect exceptional structural insight from TEM.
In vivo biomedical or real-device testing strongly preferred over in vitro only
For biomedical nanomaterials, in vivo studies in animal models are much stronger than in vitro cellular testing alone. For electronics or photonics, integration into functional devices is preferred over characterization in solution.
Carbon nanotubes and graphene remain competitive but require exceptional properties
Carbon nanomaterials get high submission volume. To stand out, show truly exceptional properties, novel synthesis, or revolutionary application. Incremental improvements to existing CNT or graphene methods have lower impact.
Computational modeling alongside experimental work increases impact
Combining experimental nanoparticle synthesis and characterization with molecular dynamics simulations or density functional theory calculations explaining size-dependent properties significantly strengthens papers.
The ACS Nano Submission Process
Manuscript preparation
Prep7,000-10,000 words with 6-8 figures. Include nanoparticle synthesis procedure, comprehensive characterization (TEM, XRD, spectroscopy), and functional application testing. Supporting information: additional TEM images, detailed characterization data, mechanistic insights.
Submission via ACS system
Day 0Submit at https://pubs.acs.org/. Required: manuscript, figures emphasizing novel nanostructure and functional advantage, cover letter highlighting novelty and application impact. Graphics abstract essential.
Editorial assessment
1-2 weeksEditor assesses novelty, characterization completeness, and application significance. Papers lacking exceptional properties or functional demonstration often desk-rejected. Competitive desk rejection ~40-50%.
Peer review
90-120 days2-3 nanomaterial experts assess synthesis novelty, characterization rigor, and application value. Reviewers scrutinize TEM images and property data carefully. First decision 90-120 days.
Revision and publication
Revision: 4-8 weeksRevisions often request additional characterization, mechanistic explanation, or application testing. Publication 2-4 weeks after acceptance.
ACS Nano by the Numbers
| 2024 Impact Factor | 15.8 |
| 5-Year Impact Factor | 16.2 |
| Editorial acceptance rate(Official ACS Nano journal metrics search snippet) | 8.4% |
| Desk rejection rate | ~40-50% |
| Median days to first decision with peer review(Official ACS Nano journal metrics search snippet) | 31.9 |
| Median days to accept(Official ACS Nano journal metrics search snippet) | 83.5 |
| Open access option(Official ACS hybrid-journal pricing page) | $4,500 CC BY / $4,000 CC BY-NC-ND |
| Publisher | American Chemical Society |
| Founded | 2007 |
Before you submit
ACS Nano accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.
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Article Types
Article
7,000-10,000 wordsComplete nanoparticle synthesis, characterization, and application
Perspective
4,000-6,000 wordsEmerging nanomaterial trends and applications (usually invited)
Review
10,000-15,000 wordsComprehensive nanomaterial technology review (usually invited)
Landmark ACS Nano Papers
Papers that defined fields and changed science:
- Carbon nanotubes synthesis and properties (Iijima, 1991) - discovered structural form of carbon
- Graphene isolation and properties (Novoselov et al., 2004, Nobel Prize 2010) - opened graphene nanomaterials field
- Quantum dots optical properties (Brus, 1980s; Alivisatos, 1990s) - size-dependent fluorescence enabled imaging
- Nanoparticles for drug delivery (Langer & Folkman, 1976; expanded 2000s) - enabled targeted therapeutics
- Plasmonic nanoparticles for sensing (surface plasmon resonance) - enabled label-free biosensing
Preparing a ACS Nano Submission?
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Primary Fields
Related Journal Guides
- Publishing in Advanced Functional Materials
- Publishing in Nano Letters
- Publishing in Small
- Publishing in Materials
Latest Journal-Specific Guides
- Submission guideACS Nano Submission Guide: Scope, Format & Tips (2026)ACS Nano submission guide covering scope, Paragon setup, editorial fit, and what nanoscience editors screen before review.
- Journal assessmentIs ACS Nano a Good Journal? What Nanoscience Researchers Need to KnowACS Nano is the ACS flagship for interdisciplinary nanoscience. Here's when the nanoscale makes your paper ACS Nano material, and when Nano Letters, Nature Nanotechnology, or Advanced Materials is the better fit.
- Desk rejectionHow to Avoid Desk Rejection at ACS NanoWhat ACS Nano editors look for before peer review, and the gaps that make a nanomaterials paper feel impressive but still unready.
- Review timelineACS Nano Review Time: What Authors Can Actually ExpectACS Nano is relatively efficient for a top nanoscience journal, but the useful submission question is still fit. Function and nanoscale consequence matter more than one neat timeline.
More Guides for This Journal
- Acceptance rateACS Nano Acceptance Rate: What Authors Can UseACS Nano does not publish a strong official acceptance rate. The better planning question is whether the nano dimension is scientifically decisive and backed by real functional proof.
- Impact factorACS Nano Impact Factor 2026: What the Number Means for AuthorsACS Nano IF 16.0 (JCR 2024), 5-yr JIF 16.4. Q1, rank 28/460. Stable in the 14-16 band for 8 years. Named failure patterns for nano submissions.
- Publishing costsACS Nano APC and Open Access: What ACS Actually Charges and What Authors Really PayACS Nano is hybrid. Here is what ACS open-access pricing actually looks like, when authors pay nothing, and when the APC is worth it.
- Submission processACS Nano Submission Process: What Happens From Upload to First DecisionACS Nano submission process guide covering editorial screening, reviewer assignment, first-decision timing, and common causes of delay.
- Manuscript prepACS Nano Cover Letter: What Editors Actually Need to SeeACS Nano editors are screening for real nanoscale science, not just nanoscale ingredients. A strong cover letter makes that distinction obvious fast.
- Publishing guideACS Nano Formatting Requirements: Complete Author GuideACS Nano has no strict word limit on full Articles (typically 6,000-10,000 words), while Letters cap at ~4,000 words. A TOC graphic (3.25 x 1.75 inches) is required, references use ACS superscript style, and Supporting Information is expected for nearly every paper.
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Reference library
Compare ACS Nano with the broader publishing context
This journal guide is the best starting point for ACS Nano. The reference library covers the surrounding questions authors usually ask next: whether the package is ready, what drives desk rejection, how neighboring journals compare, and what the submission constraints look like across the field.
Checklist system / operational asset
Elite Submission Checklist
A flagship pre-submission checklist that turns journal-fit, desk-reject, and package-quality lessons into one operational final-pass audit.
Flagship report / decision support
Desk Rejection Report
A canonical desk-rejection report that organizes the most common editorial failure modes, what they look like, and how to prevent them.
Dataset / reference hub
Journal Intelligence Dataset
A canonical journal dataset that combines selectivity posture, review timing, submission requirements, and Manusights fit signals in one citeable reference asset.
Dataset / reference guide
Peer Review Timelines by Journal
Reference-grade journal timeline data that authors, labs, and writing centers can cite when discussing realistic review timing.
Need field-expert depth? See Expert Review Options