How to Publish in ACS Applied Energy Materials: A Guide

To publish in ACS Applied Energy Materials, first check that your research fits the journal’s applied energy scope. Prepare the manuscript and supporting files according to the journal’s current author guidelines and ACS Publishing Center resources, then submit through the journal’s editorial system. Before submission, confirm that the paper’s claims are supported by its data and that author, funding, conflict-of-interest, and related-work disclosures are complete.

Start with the current instructions, since requirements can change: ACS Applied Energy Materials author guidelines and the ACS Publishing Center preparation resources.

Check the journal’s scope

The journal may be a fit when a paper connects materials research to an energy application, such as conversion or storage. Areas may include photovoltaics, batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, thermoelectrics, and catalysis for energy. Check the journal’s scope statement for current details; these examples do not replace its guidance.

Make the applied contribution clear. Explain the energy-related problem the work addresses and what the results show about the material or system. A study focused on intrinsic material properties may fit better elsewhere if it does not establish a clear connection to an application. The claims should match the experiments, whether or not the work includes a complete device.

Describe what is new in relation to relevant prior work. A clear comparison helps editors and reviewers assess the contribution.

Prepare the manuscript and supporting files

Use the ACS preparation resources and the journal’s current instructions to check formatting, structure, and file requirements. A typical research manuscript includes a title, abstract, introduction, experimental or methods section, results and discussion, and conclusion. Follow the journal’s instructions for the required structure and file types.

Write the abstract after the main results are settled. Identify the problem, summarize the approach, and state the main finding with enough context to interpret it. Include quantitative results when they are central to the paper, along with the conditions needed to understand them. Avoid claims that the data do not support.

In the introduction, explain the energy problem and the gap in existing work. Describe the methods clearly enough for readers to understand how the study was conducted and assess the findings. Organize the results and discussion around the evidence, distinguishing measured outcomes from proposed explanations. The conclusion should summarize what the work establishes and state its limits.

Prepare figures and captions according to the journal’s guidance. Label axes, units, and experimental conditions clearly. Include comparisons that help readers interpret the results, and make sure each figure supports the paper’s argument. Place additional material, such as extended characterization, in supporting information when appropriate. Check the guidelines for preparing and submitting those files.

Complete disclosures and write a focused cover letter

Verify the author list and affiliations with all coauthors. Acknowledge funding and disclose conflicts of interest as required by the journal. If the manuscript relates to work that has been published or submitted elsewhere, follow the journal’s disclosure instructions and explain the relationship.

Keep the cover letter brief and specific. Identify the applied energy problem, state the paper’s main contribution, and explain its fit with the journal’s scope. Avoid unsupported claims such as “excellent performance.” The letter should help the editor understand the paper without repeating the abstract at length.

If the study involves human or animal subjects, consult the journal’s current policies and follow the applicable reporting requirements.

Submit and respond to the decision

Prepare the files using the ACS Publishing Center’s guidance, then submit through the journal’s editorial system. An editor will assess the manuscript and decide whether it should proceed to peer review. A paper may be returned without review if its scope or contribution does not fit. Use that decision to reassess the journal choice and how clearly the manuscript presents its contribution.

If you receive a revision request, answer each reviewer comment point by point. Indicate where you changed the manuscript and explain your reasoning when you disagree with a suggestion. Keep the tone professional and support disagreements with evidence. If you cannot address a request fully, state what you did and explain the limitation.

If the paper is rejected, consider whether the decision points to a problem with fit, contribution, evidence, or presentation. Revise the manuscript or consider another journal whose scope matches the work. Check the journal’s current instructions if you are considering an appeal.

Worked example

Suppose your paper reports a new electrode material. A cover letter that says, “We report a novel material with excellent performance,” gives the editor little to assess. A clearer version identifies the energy-storage application, describes the result measured in the tested system, and states the conditions and comparison that support the claim. Use the same approach in the abstract and results: report what the experiment shows, without claiming broader performance than the evidence establishes.

Key Takeaways

• Check that the paper connects materials research to an energy application, and consult the journal’s current scope and author guidelines.
• Explain the contribution with relevant comparisons and clear experimental conditions; keep claims consistent with the data.
• Follow current instructions for manuscript files, figures, supporting information, and disclosures.
• Keep the cover letter focused on the problem, main finding, and journal fit.
• Respond to revision comments point by point. After a rejection, reassess fit, contribution, evidence, and presentation.