Journal Guide
Publishing in Applied Surface Science: Fit, Timeline & Submission Guide
Surface and interface research tied to materials performance and applications
Should you submit here?
Submit if present surface engineering improving material performance. Be careful if detailed surface analysis alone is insufficient.
Best fit if
Present surface engineering improving material performance
Not ideal if
Detailed surface analysis alone is insufficient
Also compare
6.6
Impact Factor
19%
Acceptance Rate
9 days to first decision
Time to First Decision
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What Applied Surface Science Publishes
Applied Surface Science published by Elsevier is a major journal for surface science and surface chemistry research. With a 2025 JIF of 6.6 in the 2026 JCR release and Q1 status, 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 Free Readiness Scan 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
PrepPrepare a Full Length Article, Short Communication, or conditionally approved Perspective. Full Length Articles and Short Communications use abstracts up to 200 words. Include the required highlights and graphical abstract.
Submission via Elsevier system
Day 0Submit editable manuscript sources, highlights, the graphical abstract, separate artwork, declarations, and any supplementary files through Editorial Manager.
Editorial assessment
9 days to first decisionEditors assess scope fit, novelty, and whether the manuscript advances applied surface or interface science rather than only reporting a material or device result.
Single-anonymized peer review
32 days to decision after reviewSuitable submissions are normally sent to at least one reviewer for assessment of scientific quality, mechanistic support, and functional relevance.
Revision and publication
2 days from acceptance to online publicationRevisions may request stronger characterization, clearer mechanism, or tighter comparison with prior work. Accepted papers move online quickly.
Applied Surface Science by the Numbers
| 2025 Impact Factor(2026 JCR release) | 6.6 |
| 5-Year Impact Factor | 6.3 |
| JCR Category Rank(Q1) | 3/23 (Applied Physics) |
| Acceptance rate | 19% |
| Submission to first decision | 9 days |
| Submission to decision after review | 32 days |
| Submission to acceptance | 69 days |
| Acceptance to online publication | 2 days |
| Open access option | USD 4,210 |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Founded | 1975 |
Before you submit
Applied Surface Science accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.
Start with the Free Readiness Scan. Unlock the Full Review from $39, with local pricing shown before checkout. If you need deeper submission planning, choose the Submission-Ready Dossier. The full report is calibrated to Applied Surface Science.
Article Types
Full Length Article
No explicit word or page cap stated; abstract up to 200 wordsApplied surface or interface research with complete characterization and functional significance
Short Communication
No longer than six double-spaced typed pages; abstract up to 200 wordsPriority-track short report with a complete surface-science result
Perspective Article
10-12 printed pages; fewer than 100 referencesForward-looking overview prepared after conditional topic approval from the editor
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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Latest Journal-Specific Guides
- Submission guideApplied Surface Science Submission Guide: Format, Scope & Editor TipsApplied Surface Science submission guide: papers without quantified surface-spectroscopic characterization extend revision rounds.
- Journal assessmentIs Applied Surface Science a Good Journal? Impact, Scope, and FitApplied Surface Science (JIF 6.6, Elsevier) is a mid-tier applied materials journal strongest for surface characterization with functional consequence. Here's how it compares and who should submit.
- Desk rejectionHow to Avoid Desk Rejection at Applied Surface ScienceAvoid desk rejection at Applied Surface Science with real surface logic, stronger characterization, and clearer scope fit.
- Review timelineApplied Surface Science Review Time: What Authors Can Actually ExpectApplied Surface Science is quicker than many materials journals, but the useful question is not just how fast the desk screen moves. It is whether the manuscript is truly about surfaces and interfaces at the level the editors and reviewers expect.
More Guides for This Journal
- Acceptance rateApplied Surface Science Acceptance Rate: What Authors Can Actually UseApplied Surface Science currently reports a 19% acceptance rate. The more useful planning question is whether the paper is truly surface-led and strong at the atomic or molecular level.
- Impact factorApplied Surface Science Impact Factor 2026: 6.6 - High-Volume Materials JournalApplied Surface Science impact factor is 6.6 (2026 JCR release). Q1, rank 3/23 in Materials Science. h-index 272. APC $3,670. Trend and submission guidance.
- Publishing costsApplied Surface Science APC and Open Access: Elsevier Pricing and Institutional CoverageApplied Surface Science APC is USD 4,210. Gold OA is optional, subscription publishing is free, and Elsevier agreements may cover the fee.
- Submission processApplied Surface Science Submission Process: What Happens From Upload to First DecisionA practical guide to the Applied Surface Science submission process, including editorial screening, reviewer routing, common slowdowns, and what to tighten.
- Manuscript prepApplied Surface Science Cover Letter: What Editors Actually Need to SeeApplied Surface Science rejects papers that treat surfaces as a backdrop rather than the subject. If the surface is not the central scientific focus, expect a desk rejection.
- Publishing guideApplied Surface Science Formatting Requirements: Complete Author GuideApplied Surface Science requires editable Word or LaTeX source files, a 200-word abstract for Full Length Articles and Short Communications, 3-5 highlights, a graphical abstract, numbered references, and source-specific artwork files.
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