Journal Guide
Applied Surface Science Impact Factor 6.9: Publishing Guide
Surface and interface research tied to materials performance and applications
6.9
Impact Factor (2024)
~40-50%
Acceptance Rate
~100-140 days median
Time to First Decision
What Applied Surface Science Publishes
Applied Surface Science published by Elsevier is a major journal for surface science and surface chemistry research. With JIF 6.9 and Q1 ranking in Materials Science & Surface Chemistry, ASS emphasizes research on surface characterization, modification, and applications. The journal publishes original research on surface phenomena, surface reactions, interface engineering, and nanotechnology. Critically: ASS values surfaces with demonstrated functional importance. Pure surface characterization without application context is less competitive. The journal seeks papers showing how surface engineering enables improved material properties or new applications.
- Surface characterization: XPS, AFM, STM, electron microscopy of surfaces
- Surface modifications: chemical coating, plasma treatment, ion implantation
- Thin film deposition: sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, electrodeposition
- Catalytic surfaces: heterogeneous catalysis, surface active sites
- Adhesion and friction: surface interactions, wetting, lubrication
- Corrosion and protection: surface corrosion, protective coatings
- Biointerfaces: cell-surface interactions, biomaterial surfaces
- Nanostructured surfaces: nanowires, nanoparticles, surface nanostructures
Editor Insight
“Applied Surface Science publishes research advancing surface engineering and surface science. We seek papers combining rigorous surface characterization with demonstrated functional improvements or novel applications. The best papers explain how surface chemistry or nanostructure enables superior performance.”
What Applied Surface Science Editors Look For
Surface modification or characterization with demonstrated functional advantage
Present surface engineering improving material performance. Enhanced catalytic activity? Improved corrosion resistance? Better biocompatibility? Demonstrate clear functional benefit of surface engineering.
Complete surface characterization using complementary techniques
Use multiple techniques: XPS for chemistry, AFM/SEM for morphology, spectroscopy for optical properties. Comprehensive characterization demonstrates thoroughness. Single-technique surface analysis is weak.
Mechanistic understanding of surface-property relationships
Explain how surface chemistry or nanostructure drives functionality. Why does this catalyst work? How does surface modification enhance properties? Surface-function mechanism strengthens papers.
Practical application demonstration with surface-relevant testing
Test surface performance in realistic contexts. Catalytic surfaces in actual reactors, protective coatings in corrosive environments, biointerfaces with cell cultures. Application validation matters.
Scalability and manufacturing feasibility for surface modification
Describe surface treatment scalability. Can it be applied to large-area surfaces? What are manufacturing requirements? Cost? Scalable surface modifications have greater impact.
Why Papers Get Rejected
These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past Applied Surface Science's editorial review:
Characterizing surface without demonstrating functional property improvement
Detailed surface analysis alone is insufficient. ASS expects functional significance. Show how surface modification improves performance, activity, or properties.
Single analytical technique without complementary surface characterization
Comprehensive surface understanding requires multiple techniques. XPS shows chemistry, microscopy shows morphology, spectroscopy shows optical properties. Single-method analysis is incomplete.
Surface modifications tested only in idealized conditions
Real surfaces work in harsh environments. Test catalytic surfaces in actual reactors (not just model substrates), protective coatings in true corrosive conditions. Realistic testing builds credibility.
Lack of mechanistic explanation for observed surface effects
Papers reporting surface properties without explaining mechanisms are less impactful. Connect observed effects to surface atomic structure, chemistry, or nanofeatures.
Surface modifications irreproducible or requiring exotic conditions
Practical surface modifications must be reproducible. Treatments requiring vacuum, extreme temperature, or rare materials have limited practical impact.
Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?
The quick diagnostic reads your full manuscript against Applied Surface Science's criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.
Insider Tips from Applied Surface Science Authors
Nanostructured surfaces and plasmonic effects have strong interest
Surfaces with nanoscale features (nanowires, nanoparticles, plasmonic structures) showing enhanced optical or catalytic properties receive strong editorial interest.
Biointerfaces and cell-material interactions valued
Surface modifications affecting cell behavior (adhesion, differentiation, immune response) for biomedical applications increasingly competitive.
Environmental remediation surfaces (photocatalytic, adsorptive) trending
Surfaces for pollutant degradation or removal, CO2 capture, or water purification increasingly valued as environmental sustainability grows.
In situ and operando surface analysis revealing reaction mechanisms
Studying surfaces during actual catalytic reaction or electrochemistry (operando spectroscopy) provides unique mechanistic insight highly valued.
Surface modification increasing efficiency of existing technologies
Papers showing how surface engineering improves catalytic efficiency, electrochemical performance, or corrosion resistance of commercially relevant systems have high practical impact.
The Applied Surface Science Submission Process
Manuscript preparation
Prep6,000-9,000 words with 6-8 figures. Include surface modification procedure, complete characterization (XPS, microscopy, spectroscopy), functional property testing in realistic conditions, and mechanistic discussion. Supporting: detailed characterization data, surface images.
Submission via Elsevier system
Day 0Submit at https://www.editorialmanager.com/ASS/. Required: manuscript emphasizing surface novelty and functional significance, figures showing surface characterization and property improvement, cover letter highlighting functional advantages.
Editorial assessment
1-2 weeksEditor assesses surface engineering novelty, characterization completeness, and functional significance. Papers without functional demonstration face lower priority. Moderate desk rejection ~25-35%.
Peer review
100-140 days2-3 surface science experts assess surface characterization rigor, mechanistic understanding, and practical applicability. Reviewers check XPS and microscopy data carefully. First decision 100-140 days.
Revision and publication
Revision: 4-8 weeksRevisions often request additional surface characterization or clarification of surface-property mechanism. Publication 2-4 weeks after acceptance.
Applied Surface Science by the Numbers
| 2024 Impact Factor | 6.3 |
| 5-Year Impact Factor | 6.8 |
| Acceptance rate | ~40-50% |
| Desk rejection rate | ~25-35% |
| Median first decision | ~120 days |
| Open access option | $2,900 USD |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Founded | 1975 |
Before you submit
Applied Surface Science accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.
The pre-submission diagnostic runs a live literature search, scores your manuscript section by section, and gives you a prioritized fix list calibrated to Applied Surface Science. ~30 minutes.
Article Types
Research Article
6,000-9,000 wordsSurface modification with characterization and application
Review
9,000-12,000 wordsComprehensive surface science topic review
Short Communication
3,000-4,500 wordsBrief surface science finding
Landmark Applied Surface Science Papers
Papers that defined fields and changed science:
- Surface catalysis fundamentals (Langmuir, 1920s-present) - chemical reactions at surfaces
- Thin film deposition techniques (various) - modern materials manufacturing
- Nanoparticle surface chemistry (2000s+) - size-dependent surface effects
- Plasmonic surfaces for light manipulation (2000s+) - optical properties from nanostructures
- Biointerface engineering (2010s+) - surfaces controlling cellular behavior
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Primary Fields
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