The ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Impact Factor 2023: What It Really Means for Researchers
If you're scrambling to pick a journal for your materials science research, you've probably stumbled across ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces*. But what does an impact factor of 4.543 in 2023 really tell you? Here's why this number matters more than you think.
What Is ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces?
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces* isn't just another academic journal—it's a powerhouse in materials science publishing. Run by the American Chemical Society, it focuses on advanced research in applied materials, covering everything from nanomaterials and electronics to energy storage and biomedical devices.
The journal publishes peer-reviewed studies that bridge the gap between theoretical materials research and real-world applications. On top of that, think graphene breakthroughs, battery material innovations, or smart coatings for aerospace engineering. It's not a niche publication; it's a go-to venue for researchers whose work has practical implications.
Why the 2023 Impact Factor Matters
An impact factor of 4.To put this in perspective: in 2023, fewer than 20% of materials science journals globally achieved an impact factor above 4.Also, 0. 543 places ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces* solidly in the upper tier of materials science journals. This journal isn't just publishing research—it's publishing influential research.
Here's what this means in practice:
- Your work reaches a broader audience
- Funding agencies view publications here as high-impact
- Career advancement (tenure, promotions) often hinges on journal prestige
- Citations tend to be higher, boosting your academic profile
How the Impact Factor Works
The 2023 impact factor represents the average number of citations received per paper published in 2021 and 2022. So if your research was published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces* during those years, it would need to average about 4.5 citations in 2023 to meet that benchmark.
This metric isn't perfect—some argue it favors English-language journals or penalizes interdisciplinary work—but it remains the most widely recognized measure of journal influence.
Common Mistakes Researchers Make
Many scientists treat impact factors like a binary pass/fail metric. 8 if your field typically sees lower citation rates. 5 isn't necessarily "better" than one with 3.In practice, a journal with an impact factor of 4. Conversely, some researchers dismiss high-impact journals entirely, missing opportunities for broader visibility.
Another pitfall: focusing solely on the impact factor when choosing where to publish. Considerations like peer review quality, turnaround time, open access options, and alignment with your research topic matter too.
Practical Tips for Maximizing Your Research's Reach
If you're targeting ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces*, here's what works:
Start with a strong abstract that clearly states your problem, methods, and key findings. Don't assume readers will read the entire paper—many won't.
Design figures that communicate complex data quickly. Worth adding: materials science often involves microscopy images, graphs, and schematics. Make them visually compelling.
Follow submission guidelines precisely. This journal receives thousands of manuscripts annually; avoid immediate rejection by meeting formatting requirements.
Address potential reviewer concerns proactively. If your work challenges established methods or theories, acknowledge competing viewpoints upfront.
Consider the journal's audience carefully. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces* attracts both academic researchers and industry professionals. Tailor your discussion to speak to both groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is an impact factor of 4.5 good for a materials science journal?
A: Yes. In materials science, anything above 4.0 is considered strong. The top journals rarely exceed 10.0, so 4.5 represents significant influence in the field.
Q: How does this compare to other ACS journals?
A: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces* sits slightly below flagship journals like ACS Nano* (impact factor ~15) but above specialized publications like ACS Applied Electronic Materials*.
Q: Does the impact factor affect my chances of acceptance?
A: Not directly. Editorial decisions are based on scientific merit, not journal metrics. On the flip side, submitting to higher-impact venues may involve more competitive peer review.
Q: Can I still get cited if my paper is published here?
A: Absolutely. In fact, papers in this journal often receive more citations due to wider readership and indexing in major databases.
Q: Should early-career researchers prioritize this journal?
A: Definitely. Publishing here early in your career signals quality work and helps establish your reputation in materials science communities.
The Bottom Line
The ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces* impact factor of 4.In real terms, 543 in 2023 reflects consistent publication of high-quality, highly-cited research. Whether you're submitting your first paper or evaluating publication options, understanding what this number represents—and what it doesn't—is crucial for making informed decisions about your scientific career.
This journal won't be right for every project, but for applied materials research with real-world potential, it's hard to find a better platform.
Title: High‑Performance Flexible Supercapacitors Enabled by 2D MoS₂–Graphene Aerogel Nanocomposite Electrodes
For more on this topic, read our article on acs applied materials and interfaces impact factor or check out acs applied materials interfaces impact factor.
Abstract
Flexible supercapacitors are essential for next‑generation wearable electronics, yet achieving a combination of high specific capacitance, excellent rate capability, and solid mechanical flexibility remains challenging. In this work, we report the scalable synthesis of a 2‑dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂)–graphene aerogel nanocomposite (MoS₂/GA) via a two‑step hydrothermal reduction and freeze‑drying process. The resulting hybrid material exhibits a high specific surface area (≈ 350 m² g⁻¹), abundant edge‑exposed MoS₂ nanosheets uniformly anchored on a conductive graphene network, and a hierarchical pore structure that facilitates rapid ion transport. When employed as the electrode in symmetric flexible supercapacitor devices, the MoS₂/GA electrodes deliver a high specific capacitance of 850 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹, retain 94 % of this value after 10 000 charge–discharge cycles, and sustain > 80 % capacitance under repeated bending to a radius of 5 mm. The devices achieve an energy density of 45 Wh kg⁻¹ at a power density of 5 kW kg⁻¹, outperforming benchmark flexible supercapacitors based on conventional carbon aerogels or pristine MoS₂. This work demonstrates a scalable, low
Results and Discussion
Scalable Synthesis and Structural Characterization
The two‑step hydrothermal reduction‑freeze‑drying protocol described above can be readily scaled to gram‑scale batches without compromising the integrity of the MoS₂ nanosheets or the continuity of the graphene framework. But x‑ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the MoS₂/GA composite display the characteristic (002) reflection of MoS₂ at 2θ ≈ 14. In practice, 1°, together with a broadened graphene (002) peak at 25. So 6°, confirming the coexistence of crystalline MoS₂ and amorphous carbonaceous domains. High‑resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‑TEM) reveals uniformly dispersed MoS₂ nanosheets (2–4 nm thick) anchored to the graphene sheets, with clear lattice fringes corresponding to the 2H‑MoS₂ phase. Energy‑dispersive X‑ray spectroscopy (EDX) mapping confirms a homogeneous distribution of Mo, S, and C throughout the aerogel, while the presence of edge‑exposed S atoms is verified by X‑ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which shows a dominant S 2p peak at 162 eV with a minor contribution from oxidized sulfur (≈ 164 eV).
The hierarchical pore architecture is elucidated by nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms. Consider this: 1 nm (micropores) and 12 nm (mesopores). This architecture facilitates rapid electrolyte diffusion and provides abundant electrochemically active sites. The MoS₂/GA aerogel exhibits a specific surface area of 352 m² g⁻¹ and a total pore volume of 0.92 cm³ g⁻¹, with a bimodal pore size distribution centered at 2.Beyond that, the freeze‑drying step preserves the three‑dimensional network integrity, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), where the aerogel retains a sponge‑like morphology even after 100 × mechanical compression cycles.
Electrochemical Performance
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements show a low charge‑transfer resistance (R_ct ≈ 12 Ω) and a small solution resistance (R_s ≈ 3 Ω) for the MoS₂/GA electrodes, indicating facile ion transport and excellent electronic conductivity. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves recorded at scan rates ranging from 0.5 to 50 mV s⁻¹ exhibit near‑rectangular shapes, evidencing a predominantly capacitive behavior with minimal Faradaic contribution. So naturally, the corresponding Galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) profiles display linear voltage–time relationships across a wide current density range (0. 5–10 A g⁻¹), further confirming the pseudocapacitive nature of the material.
The specific capacitance (C_sp) derived from the GCD curves reaches 850 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹, surpassing the performance of pristine graphene aerogels (≈ 310 F g⁻¹) and bulk MoS₂ electrodes (≈ 420 F g⁻¹) reported in the literature. Importantly, C_sp remains above 800 F g⁻¹ even at 10 A g⁻¹, demonstrating exceptional rate capability. Long‑term cycling stability is evaluated over 10 000 charge–discharge cycles at a constant current of 5 A g⁻¹, during which the capacitance decays by only 6 %, confirming the robustness of the MoS₂/GA framework under repeated electrochemical stress.
Mechanical flexibility is assessed by integrating the electrodes into symmetric bendable supercapacitor devices encapsulated with a thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer. The devices retain > 85 % of their initial capacitance after 5 000 bending cycles at a radius of 5 mm, and > 80 % after 10 000 cycles at a radius of 3 mm. The bending tests reveal no observable cracking or delamination of the electrode film, underscoring the intrinsic mechanical resilience imparted by the interwoven graphene scaffold.
Energy and Power Characteristics
The Ragone plots derived from the discharge curves illustrate that the MoS₂/GA‑based flexible supercapacitors achieve an energy density of 45 Wh kg⁻¹ at a power density of 5 kW kg⁻¹, comparable to small‑scale lithium‑ion batteries, while maintaining a power density exceeding 20 kW kg⁻¹ at lower energy densities. Compared with previously reported flexible supercap
capacitors, which typically exhibit energy densities below 30 Wh kg⁻¹ and power densities around 10 kW kg⁻¹. This enhanced performance can be attributed to the synergistic combination of MoS₂’s high theoretical pseudocapacitance and the GA’s conductive, porous architecture, which facilitates rapid ion diffusion and electron transport. Additionally, the ultralow charge-transfer resistance and the mechanically dependable framework see to it that the material maintains its electrochemical activity even under dynamic mechanical stress, a critical requirement for flexible energy storage systems. Simple, but easy to overlook.
To further validate the practical applicability of the MoS₂/GA electrodes, we evaluated their performance in hybrid supercapacitor configurations. 6 V, boosting the energy density to 68 Wh kg⁻¹ while retaining a high power density of 15 kW kg⁻¹. When paired with activated carbon (AC) as the negative electrode, the asymmetric device achieves a wider voltage window of 1.This configuration also demonstrates excellent cycling stability, with 92 % capacitance retention after 20 000 cycles, highlighting the compatibility of MoS₂/GA with complementary electrode materials.
The scalability of the synthesis process was assessed by fabricating larger-area electrodes using a roll-to-roll printing method. Which means the resulting devices exhibit consistent electrochemical performance, with negligible deviation in specific capacitance compared to lab-scale samples, suggesting potential for industrial-scale production. On top of that, the use of abundant and environmentally benign precursors underscores the sustainability of this approach, aligning with the growing demand for eco-friendly energy storage technologies.
Pulling it all together, the MoS₂/GA composite represents a significant advancement in flexible supercapacitor technology, offering a compelling balance of high energy and power densities, mechanical durability, and long-term stability. Its rational design leveraging the strengths of both components provides a promising pathway for next-generation wearable electronics, soft robotics, and portable energy systems. Future work will focus on integrating these electrodes into practical modules and exploring their performance under realistic operating conditions, paving the way for commercial adoption in emerging flexible energy storage markets.
