Chemical Communications Blog

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Seung Uk Son (Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea) below!

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Prof. Seung Uk Son received his Ph.D. in organometallic chemistry from Seoul National University, South Korea. After completing postdoctoral research in nanomaterials under Prof. Taeghwan Hyeon at Seoul National University and conducting visiting faculty research in supramolecular chemistry with Prof. D. A. Sweigart at Brown University, he joined the Chemistry Department of Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) in South Korea as an assistant professor and has been working there since 2005. His current research interests focus on the development of functional organic-inorganic materials for sustainable chemistry and energy applications.

How have you seen ChemComm evolve over the years, and what aspects do you find most noteworthy?

Reflecting the changes in the scientific community, such as shifts in research topics and publication styles, I believe that ChemComm has strived to maintain its original philosophy (in my subjective thinking): publishing first and novel findings in chemistry.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

I appreciate ChemComm’s philosophy (in my subjective thinking), which emphasizes new findings rather than focusing solely on world-best record performance.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

In materials chemistry, I feel that scientists often compete on performance records of functional materials without necessarily introducing new scientific principles. I feel that ChemComm maintains an open mind toward new approaches and the discovery of scientific principles, even when they are in incomplete stages.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

I found that the peer review process at ChemComm is both fast and fair. I believe the editorial team operates in a fair and reasonable manner, particularly in adjudicative reviewing cases

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

I believe that continuing to invite young editors and making editorial efforts to increase the impact factor will be crucial in encouraging young scientists to submit their manuscripts to ChemComm.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

Recently, replacing petroleum-based polymers with biomass-based ones has become an important subject. Additionally, managing energy with chemical materials is crucial. Our recent ChemComm paper reports the synthesis of biomass-derived polyurethanes for harvesting triboelectric energy.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

I believe that non-petroleum-based artificial polymers and their energy applications could become a prominent and active research field.

Be sure to read Professor Son’s article, “Polyurethanes synthesized using biomass-derived furan diols as sustainable triboelectric materials” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Naoyuki Shimada (Nihon University, Japan) below!

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Naoyuki Shimada obtained B.Eng. in 2001, and M.Eng. in 2003 from Nihon University under the guidance of Prof. Shoichi Shimizu. He received Ph.D. in 2007 from Hokkaido University under the supervision of Prof. Shunichi Hashimoto. Following his doctoral studies, he worked as a Research Associate and an Assistant Professor at Hokkaido University. In 2009 he joined Prof. Tius’s Research Group at University of Hawaii at Manoa as a Postdoctoral Researcher. He returned to Japan in 2011, taking a position as Assistant Professor at Kitasato University, where he was promoted as a Junior Associate Professor in 2019. In 2022, He moved to the Department of Chemistry, Nihon University as a Principal Investigator. Dr. Shimada has several prestigious awards, including Kaneka Award in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan, Pharmaceutical Society of Japan Division of Organic Chemistry Award, and UBE Young Researcher Award. His research focuses on the development of organic reactions using organoboron catalysts and its application to the synthesis of biological molecules.

How have you seen ChemComm evolve over the years, and what aspects do you find most noteworthy?

ChemComm has consistently published short communications of highly novel, high-level research in the field of general chemistry, both in the past and present. The various Themed Collections offered by ChemComm serve as important resources about research fields and researchers.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

What I appreciate most about ChemComm is how highly novel research is concisely summarized in a format suitable for a communications journal. This makes it extremely accessible and helps readers stay informed about the latest trends in the field.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

ChemComm’s strength lies in its 60-year tradition and authority as the RSC’s leading communications journal in general chemistry. Despite the emergence of many new academic journals in recent years, ChemComm has maintained its status as a respected platform for novel research.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

The insightful comments from ChemComm’s excellent reviewers significantly enhance the quality of submitted manuscripts. The editorial team’s decisions are fair and impartial. ChemComm’s reliability is upheld by the rigorous data verification conducted by both the editorial team and expert reviewers. The rapid peer-review process and the visibility of review stages through RSC’s Manuscript Tracker are invaluable to researchers.

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

ChemComm provides valuable opportunities for researchers at all career stages. Initiatives such as ChemComm Milestones, Emerging Investigators, Pioneering Investigators, and the ChemComm Blog are great examples of how the journal encourages researchers. I hope ChemComm will continue to focus on and support young scientists in the field of chemistry.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

Amides and peptides are key chemical structure found in many pharmaceuticals. The catalytic dehydrative condensation reaction between readily available carboxylic acids and amines is the most efficient and direct method for synthesizing amides and peptides. This Feature Article reviews the progress made in developing organoboron-catalyzed dehydrative condensation reactions for amide and peptide bond formation from 1996 to 2023, including our recent development of a diboronic acid anhydride (DBAA)-catalyzed reaction.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

As highlighted in the Feature Article, significant progress has been made in organoboron-catalyzed dehydrative amide and peptide bond formation, thanks to research into new reaction mechanisms and novel catalysts. However, to further advance this field, we need catalysts that can operate under mild conditions, with low catalyst loadings, and without additives. We anticipate the development of such innovative catalysts in the near future.

Be sure to read Naoyuki’s Open Access Feature article, “Organoboron catalysis for direct amide/peptide bond formation” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Dr Ningning Lv (Wenzhou University, China) below!

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Ningning Lv was born in Zhejiang, China in 1994. She received a Ph.D. degree from Zhejiang University under the supervision of Prof. Yuhong Zhang in June 2020. Then she joined the College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Wenzhou University at July 2020. Her current research interest focus on low-cost transition-metal-catalyzed functionalization of unsaturated hydrocarbons, cross-dehydrogenative coupling and the transformation of nitriles.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

My favorite thing about ChemComm is the convenient submission process.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

I think the high efficiency of the peer review cycle and the quality of the articles make ChemComm stand out among other journals.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

The peer review process and interaction with the editorial team are very convenient.

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

I appreciate that ChemComm provides opportunities for a young researcher to publish their work on ChemComm. I am honored to have the chance to publish our recent work on the 60th-anniversary collection of ChemComm.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

My recent work on ChemComm is about Cu-mediated C(sp³)-C(sp³) coupling/cyclization sequences of unactivated ketones and acylhydrazones for the expeditious construction of 3,4,6-trisubstituted and 3,5-disubstituted pyridazines.

Be sure to read Ningning’s communication, “Synthesis of polysubstituted pyridazines via Cu-mediated C(sp3)–C(sp3) coupling/annulation of saturated ketones with acylhydrazones” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Neal Mankad (University of Illinois Chicago, USA) below!

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Neal P. Mankad received his S.B. in chemistry from MIT in 2004 after having conducted undergraduate research with Prof. Joseph P. Sadighi on copper N-heterocyclic carbene complexes. In 2010, Neal earned a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from Caltech as an NSF graduate research fellow under the supervision of Prof. Jonas C. Peters, working on biomimetic and bioinspired complexes of copper and iron. During 2010-2012, he was an NIH postdoctoral research fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, with Prof. F. Dean Toste studying fundamental organometallic chemistry of gold. Since 2012, Neal has been an independent faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), where his group focuses on synthetic inorganic and organometallic systems relevant to chemical sustainability. Selected research awards earned by Neal include the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship and the NIH Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA). He has also gained distinction for excellence in teaching, including by the UIC Teaching Recognition Program.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

The noteworthy things about ChemComm that stand out to me favourably include the ability to process cutting-edge submissions quickly and the fact that it is a unique venue to publish short-form works at early stages of development.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

The peer review process tends to be efficient and well suited for works that need to be communicated rapidly for any reason. The editorial team at ChemComm (and all RSC journals I’m familiar with, I might add) are ever helpful and responsive.

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

With the increasing number of journals on the scene, it is critical to keep emphasizing the unique aspects of ChemComm that make it irreplicable.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

In this publication, we revisited some well-known complexes with Mo≣Mo quadruple bonds and redesigned them to have varying numbers of cationically charged groups in the second coordination sphere. This allowed us to quantify the effect on the binuclear core of electrostatic fields, ultimately revealing that the effect is just about half that what we’d expect for a mononuclear core. Not only is this new fundamental knowledge about electrostatic field effects in inorganic chemistry, but also it is crucial calibration data we will use when carrying out studies in which we use closely related complexes for energy storage applications. Look for this soon in the literature!

Be sure to read Neal’s communication, “Quantifying effects of second-sphere cationic groups on redox properties of dimolybdenum quadruple bonds” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Dr Artur Kasprzak (Warsaw University of Technology, Poland) below!

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Dr. hab. Artur Kasprzak obtained his PhD (2020) and DSc (2023) in chemistry from the Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Poland. He is currently an assistant professor therein. He leads an ambitious young research group performing interdisciplinary research works within organic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, and (nano)materials chemistry. Currently, he is mainly focused on the design of molecular receptors of ions, with a special focus on molecules featuring the buckybowl motif or polyaromatic derivatives with aggregation-induced behaviors. He has been a co-author of 65 research papers from the JCR journals, including 39 as the corresponding author (current H index = 16).

How have you seen ChemComm evolve over the years, and what aspects do you find most noteworthy?

In my opinion, over the years ChemComm has grown into a leading and very prestigious general chemistry journal. For me, in ChemComm you can read about current significant research works from the world’s leading research groups. It is also a great journal for young research group leaders to publish their work in top-quality journal. It is indeed an exciting feeling to see your work published in ChemComm alongside works of well-recognized top specialists in the field!

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

ChemComm it is the journal where you can find lots of good quality papers from different areas of chemistry, from both young researchers and well-recognized scientists, describing brilliant scientific ideas and well-executed research.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

Very fast publication times of communication-type manuscripts of high significance and prominent quality.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

I always find the peer review process at ChemComm fair with the professional opinions of Reviewers. The process is also very fast, which is beneficial in terms of publishing in a relatively short time the research results with prospective high impact in the future.

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

I think, continuous promotion of new faces in the chemical society, such as young group leaders to boost their careers.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

My group is currently working on the design of new polyaromatic derivatives, including bowl-shaped molecules, for molecular recognition purposes, mainly in terms of the design of electrochemical and optical sensors of ions. Together with Marcin (Dr. Marcin Lindner, Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Organic Chemistry) we envisioned that the N-doped and bowl-shaped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons synthesized in his laboratory could serve as a new class of molecular receptors toward the recognition of cations. In this communication, we presented the results of our electrochemical, spectroscopic and computational studies on cation-p interactions between these exciting molecules and selected metal cations, toward the design of new class of molecular receptors for potentiometric and optical sensors.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

I believe this paper opens new avenues in yet unexplored areas of application of N-doped and bowl-shaped nanographenes. According to our studies, the molecular recognition process with the inclusion of such molecules and cationic species could be tracked both electrochemically and spectroscopically. I imagine the possibilities of using other techniques for tracking such interactions in terms of applied sciences of bowl-shaped molecules. There are also many exciting nanographenes and/or analytes that could be potentially used in future studies in such area.

Be sure to read Artur’s Open Access communication, “Metal cations recognition by bowl-shaped N-pyrrolic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Dr Joao M. Batista Jr. (Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil) below!

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João M. Batista Jr. received a BSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences (2007) and a PhD in Chemistry (2012) from UNESP, Brazil. During 2009-2010 he was appointed Visiting Research Scholar at Syracuse University, USA. He then worked as a postdoctoral fellow at UNESP (2012-2015) with a period as Visiting Scientist at the University of Manchester (2012-2013). In 2015, he joined UFSCar, Brazil, to lead the first Vibrational Optical Activity research group in South America. Currently, he works as an assistant professor of chemistry at UNIFESP, in São José dos Campos, Brazil. His research involves stereochemical studies of small molecules and macromolecules using chiroptical methods and quantum-chemical calculations.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

The time to first decision.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

ChemComm is a dependable source of cutting-edge research across the chemical sciences. Regardless of specific impact factor numbers, which obviously fluctuates, you can always rest assured that any paper published will be of sufficient quality and novelty. Additionally, the four-page format makes it easier and more enjoyable to read, even though it may be a challenging requirement to meet as an author.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

The determination of the absolute configuration (exact spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule) is one of the most challenging steps during the structural elucidation process of natural products. As a result, significant numbers of misassignments are still reported in the literature every year. Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), which was first reported 50 years ago, represents one of the most powerful chiroptical spectroscopic methods available to unambiguously assess both the absolute configuration and conformations of chiral molecules directly in solution, and even for those devoid of UV-vis chromophores. Despite its potential, VCD is still largely underutilized by the natural product community worldwide for varying reasons. In the Highlight article recently published in ChemComm we presented the evolution of the application of VCD to natural product chemistry, focusing on its strengths as well as points that still need improvement, along with general experimental and computational guidelines for its correct application. With this paper, we hope more researchers will feel encouraged and confident to use VCD to solve stereochemical problems.

Be sure to read Joao’s full Highlight article, “Stereochemistry of natural products from vibrational circular dichroism” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Tianyi Ma (RMIT University, Australia) below!

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Tianyi Ma is a RMIT University Distinguished Professor, an Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry, and Clarivate’s Global Highly Cited Researcher. He is Director of ARC Industrial Transformation Hub for Intelligent Energy Efficiency in Future Protected Cropping, and Research Director of Centre for Atomaterials and Nanomanufacturing (CAN). His international standing is evidenced by >300 publications in top-tier journals with an H-index of 94 and >37,000 citations. His ground-breaking research has been acknowledged by internationally recognised experts and authorities via the AAS Le Févre Medal, Young Tall Poppy Science Award, ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, and Horizon Prize of Royal Society of Chemistry. His scientific impact and leadership are also evidenced by supervision of over 30 Ph.D. students, secured more than AU$40m in government and industry funding, and heavy engagement in international academic roles, such as Associate Editor, Editorial Board Member and Guest Editor for over 10 reputable international journals. He focuses on developing fundamental scientific breakthroughs and also up-scaling prototypes with far-reaching industry influence and real-life applications. Demonstrations and pilot plants have been established locally in Australia to drive his technologies to practical deployment and commercialisation, for example, the square meter sized solar-to-hydrogen generator, kilowatt level CO2 electrolyser, kilogram-scale formic acid production micro-pilot plant, and high-energy density battery packs, which change the way how society generates and consumes energy and chemicals.

How have you seen ChemComm evolve over the years, and what aspects do you find most noteworthy?

Over the years, ChemComm has evolved significantly in both scope and impact. Initially focused on rapid communications in chemistry, it has expanded to cover a wide range of topics, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of modern chemical research. One of the most noteworthy aspects is its commitment to high-quality, high-impact research. The introduction of themed issues and special collections has also been a positive development, allowing for deeper dives into specific areas of interest.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

My favorite thing about ChemComm is its emphasis on publishing concise and impactful communications. This format allows researchers to quickly disseminate their most important findings to the scientific community. Additionally, the high standards of peer review and the rapid publication timeline make it an ideal venue for sharing cutting-edge research.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

ChemComm stands out for its rigorous peer review process, which ensures that only high-quality and significant research is published. The journal’s broad scope and interdisciplinary approach attract a diverse readership, facilitating combination of ideas across different areas of chemistry. Furthermore, its affiliation with the Royal Society of Chemistry lends it a prestigious reputation and wide visibility.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

The peer review process at ChemComm is thorough and constructive. Reviewers are experts in their fields and provide detailed feedback that helps authors improve the quality of their manuscripts. The editorial team is professional, responsive, and supportive throughout the submission and review process. Their commitment to maintaining high standards ensures the integrity and impact of the published research.

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

To further support and engage with future generations of scientists, ChemComm could enhance its mentorship and educational initiatives. This might include organizing webinars and workshops on scientific writing, peer review, and career development. Additionally, creating platforms for young researchers to showcase their work and interact with established scientists would foster a more inclusive and supportive research community.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

Our recent publication in ChemComm, titled “Mg ions intercalated with V3O7·H2O to construct ultrastable cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion battery,” explores the synthesis and characterization of a novel cathode material. By intercalating magnesium ions into V3O7·H2O, we have developed a highly stable cathode for zinc-ion batteries, demonstrating improved electrochemical performance and cycling stability. This work contributes to the development of more efficient and durable energy storage systems.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

The next steps in this research involve further optimization of the cathode material to enhance its performance. Investigating the underlying mechanisms of ion intercalation and diffusion at the atomic level could provide deeper insights into improving material design. Additionally, exploring the scalability and commercial viability of these cathode materials in practical battery applications will be crucial. Future research could also extend this approach to other types of ion batteries, potentially leading to breakthroughs in energy storage technology.

Be sure to read Tianyi Ma’s full article, “Mg ions intercalated with V3O7·H2O to construct ultrastable cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Yuya Oaki (Keio University, Japan) below!

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Yuya Oaki is a Professor in the Department of Applied Chemistry, Keio University, Japan. He received his PhD in 2006 from Keio University and worked at The University of Tokyo as a postdoctoral fellow. His current research interest is in layered materials, nanosheets, and conjugated polymers with 2D anisotropy and their applications, such as batteries, catalysts, and sensors. In addition, machine learning is combined with these experimental data. His research was highlighted by The Chemical Society of Japan Award For Young Chemists in 2015. He also worked as a Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) PRESTO project researcher from 2016. His work has been featured in the Emerging Investigator collection of Chem. Commun., 2017, 53, 7329.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

The four-page limitation is preferable for authors, reviewers, and readers because we can know the straightforward conclusions in a short time.

How have you seen ChemComm evolve over the years, and what aspects do you find most noteworthy?

ChemComm has published many high-quality balanced communications from a broad range of chemistry. Browsing the graphical abstracts in the website allows us to follow the trends in chemistry from across the world.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

ChemComm is one of the most authoritative journals in general chemistry. Thanks to the four-page limitation, we can quickly and easily understand the important conclusions from a broad range of papers.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

Many reviewers in ChemComm provide straightforward, rational, and useful comments, regardless of the positive and negative. Moreover, thanks to reviewers and editors, the time to decision and publication is very short. So, ChemComm has been a real communication journal.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

I’m very happy to publish a Feature Article summarizing our recent works about the concept of cascading responses in stimuli-responsive materials with Prof Fujii, one of my collaborators. Prof. Fujii summarizes stimuli-responsive soft active materials as functional carriers. I introduce materials and devices based on layered 2D polydiacetylene with the tuned stimuli-responsive color-change properties for sensing heat, light, and force.

Be sure to read Yuya Oaki’s full Feature Article, “Cascading responses of stimuli-responsive materials” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Chung-Wei Kung (National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan) below!

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Chung-Wei Kung earned his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering from National Taiwan University, Taiwan in 2011 and 2015, respectively, under the supervision of Professor Kuo-Chuan Ho. He joined The Hupp and Farha Groups in Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University as a visiting scholar and postdoctoral researcher during 2013-2014 and 2016-2018, respectively. Thereafter, he joined Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan as an assistant professor to launch his independent research group in August 2018 and was promoted as associate professor in 2021. His research focuses on the design, synthesis, and materials chemistry of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and MOF-based nanocomposites and their electrochemical applications. He is the recipient of several awards in Taiwan including the national “Yushan Young Fellow” (2018 & 2023) and “Ta-You Wu Memorial Award” (2022). He was also selected as the “Outstanding Reviewer” of Chemical Communications in 2022.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

ChemComm provides fast reviewing and publishing processes to report novel findings providing new insights in chemistry. It allows the up-to-date spread of new ideas and findings to the chemistry community, and thus can inspire and influence other researchers without a long time delay. I can always find interesting studies and new ideas by reading articles in ChemComm.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

In addition to the fast publishing process, ChemComm emphasized the new contributions of its work in the aspect of all fields of chemistry, and it published rigorous studies in chemistry. ChemComm also has a long history and a great reputation in the chemistry community. Such facts render ChemComm standing out from other metric-chasing Journals focusing a lot on high performances in applications in recent years and Journals in specialized subfields.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

Peer-review process is quick, and comments are constructive. In addition, as a reviewer of ChemComm for several articles, I found that the review reports from other reviewers are usually quite constructive with a high quality and rigor in chemistry. We thank the reviewers and the professional editorial team.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

In our group, we focus on the design of MOF-based porous materials and their roles in aqueous electrochemical processes while preserving their structural integrity. Thus, our contributions mostly focus on group(IV) metal-based MOFs such as zirconium(IV)-based MOFs (Zr-MOFs), since their structures are highly tunable, and they are stable in aqueous solutions. Numerous studies published since 2015 have attempted to utilize Zr-MOFs in electrocatalysis. Thus, as the author of several of them, I contributed this Feature Article in ChemComm to highlight the progress of this subfield over the past ten years, clarify the critical concepts regarding how the MOFs can play unique roles in electrochemical processes and what could be the rational design, and provide perspectives and constructive suggestions on future studies to this community.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

More opportunities are there to incorporate such highly stable MOFs into a range of electrochemical processes to enhance or adjust the reaction rates and selectivity. Stability of the framework during the electrochemical process and tracing structural changes during the reaction will attract more attention, and the actual roles of each MOF in each electrocatalytic process will be further clarified in future studies. These areas and findings should be of highly interest to the chemistry community and provide different viewpoints compared to application-oriented studies.

Be sure to read Chung-Wei’s full Feature Article, “Zirconium-based metal–organic frameworks and their roles in electrocatalysis” to learn more!