To celebrate the 2025 Outstanding Reviewers of Industrial Chemistry & Materials and gain deeper insights into the perspectives of our reviewers, we invited them to share their views on peer review, advice for authors, and their experiences with ICM.
This time, we are pleased to highlight Dr. Juan Coronado, Prof. Maria Goula, Prof. Yi Gao, Jin-Kyun Lee, and Prof. Feng Yan. We sincerely thank them for their generous contributions and continued support of the journal. We hope their insights will provide valuable guidance and inspiration for both reviewers and authors.
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Juan Coronado is a scientific investigator of Instituto de Catalisis y Petroleoquimica. He obtained his Ph.D. from Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 1995. His research focuses on the development of advanced catalysts for the production of sustainable fuels, the generation of hydrogen and the valorisation of CO2. |
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Maria Goula is a Professor and Director of the Laboratory of Fuels and Environmental Catalysis, at the University of Western Macedonia. She obtained her Ph.D. from University of Patras in 1993. Her research focuses on Heterogeneous Catalysis, especially in materials synthesis and characterization, catalyst development and evaluation, and investigation of reaction kinetics and mechanisms. |
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Yi Gao is a Professor at Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He received his Ph.D. from Nanjing University in 2002. His research focuses on the dynamic analysis of catalytic conversion processes of small carbon-based molecules, the nucleation mechanisms and structural evolution behaviours of nanomaterials, as well as machine learning-driven simulation and design of catalytic materials. |
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Jin-Kyun Lee is a professor at Inha University. He received his Ph.D. from University of Cambridge in 2005. His research interests focus on photoresists, fluorinated materials, organic and polymer synthesis, EUV lithography materials, and micro/nanofabrication-related polymer materials. |
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Feng Yan is an Associate Professor at Southern University of Science and Technology. He received his Ph.D. from Tsinghua University in 2018. His research focuses on the resource utilization of industrial solid waste, energy conversion of biomass waste, carbon dioxide capture and utilization, and pollution control from municipal solid waste incineration. |
What motivated you to review for ICM, and what keeps you engaged with the journal?
Maria Goula: ICM’s scope aligns closely with my research interests in industrial chemistry and materials, and I appreciate its emphasis on rigorous, application-oriented science. Reviewing lets me contribute to improving manuscript quality, stay current with new developments, and support a fair peer-review culture — those factors keep me engaged.
Yi Gao: I was motivated to review for ICM because it offers a transparent, efficient, and fair platform for disseminating cutting-edge research in industrial chemistry, catalysis, and related process technologies. The journal’s commitment to scientific rigor and timely publication aligns closely with my own values as a researcher. What continues to keep me engaged is the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of high-quality science while engaging with innovative work from colleagues across the global research community.
Feng Yan: My motivation to review for ICM comes from my strong interest in the journal’s focus on the intersection of fundamental chemistry and industrial application. My research mainly centres on CO2 capture materials and low-carbon utilization of solid waste, which aligns closely with the journal’s scope. The high quality of submissions and the journal’s emphasis on practical and impactful research have kept me actively engaged as a reviewer.
Jin-Kyun Lee: Having spent several years in process development research at a fine chemical company, with experiences in the large-scale production of pharmaceutical intermediates, I have become especially interested in research that is closely connected to commercialization, particularly new organic chemical processes and materials with important practical applications. For this reason, I was very happy to learn that the RSC publishes such a wonderful journal in this field, and I truly appreciated the opportunity to review a manuscript for it. I would be delighted to review more manuscripts in the future and continue learning from research with strong practical importance. I also sincerely hope to conduct impactful studies of my own and submit our work to ICM.
From a reviewer’s perspective, what makes a manuscript truly stand out during peer review?
Maria Goula: Clarity of hypothesis and objectives, rigorous and reproducible methods, well-supported conclusions, and clear presentation of data (including proper controls and error analysis). Novelty and relevance to the field, combined with transparent discussion of limitations, make a manuscript stand out.
Yi Gao: The novelty in concepts, methodologies, and/or instruments can guarantee a manuscript truly stand out.
Juan Coronado: Although, as an author, I am fully aware that being truly original in every publication is challenging, as a reviewer I am particularly drawn to papers that offer a distinct perspective. This originality need not lie in the central topic itself, but it may emerge in specific aspects of the work, such as the way a problem is framed or how a well-established analytical technique finds a new use.
Obviously, rigorous and competently executed research that follows established methodologies is essential. Such contributions are generally straightforward to evaluate and this is surely well-received by the always busy reviewers trying to do their share. However, the studies that really make a more durable impression are those that introduce fresh and original viewpoints. Reviewing those works is more stimulating and intellectually rewarding experience that can contribute to reshape one’s own perspectives.
What advice would you give to early-career researchers or first-time authors to improve their chances of a successful peer review?
Maria Goula: Focus on a clear research question, thorough and reproducible methods, and transparent data presentation. Write a concise introduction and discussion that tie results to the broader field. Carefully follow journal guidelines, and have colleagues review the manuscript for clarity before submission.
Yi Gao: An abstract with clear and concise information of the motivation, key problem, innovative methodology, and novel discovery will improve the chances of a successful peer review.
What is the most valuable insight or lesson you have gained through reviewing manuscripts?
Maria Goula: Good peer review often hinges on constructive feedback that identifies specific, actionable improvements rather than only pointing out flaws. Reviewing has taught me to evaluate both scientific rigor and clarity of communication, and to appreciate incremental advances alongside breakthroughs.
Yi Gao: Occasionally I will find some authors (not noticed before) sharing similar interests with me while reviewing manuscripts. I will check and follow their work to help my own research.
Has your experience reviewing for ICM influenced your interest in submitting your own work to the journal?
Maria Goula: Yes. Positive experiences with the journal’s fair and constructive review process, and the relevance of its audience to my research, make ICM an attractive venue for submitting my work.
Yi Gao: Yes. ICM is an ideal home to publish my studies in catalysis and materials.
Feng Yan: My experience reviewing for the journal has further strengthened my interest in submitting my own work. I believe that Industrial Chemistry & Materials provides an excellent platform for disseminating research with both scientific depth and industrial relevance, and I plan to submit my future work to the journal.

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Suojiang Zhang, Professor at the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), President of Henan University, China. He is a leading scientist in ionic liquids (ILs) and green chemical engineering who was elected as a Member of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2015 and Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering in 2024. He has published over 700 papers in Chemical Reviews, Nature Communications, Angewandte Chemie, Advanced Materials, AIChE Journal, Chemical Engineering Journal, etc., with 40,543 citations and an h-index of 97, 11 books, and 8 chapters. He holds 291 patents, including 6 United States of America/Japan patents. He has developed over 10 IL-based green technologies with successful industrial applications, such as the world’s first 200,000 t/a IL-catalyzed CO2 to dimethyl carbonate industry plant. He is a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and has received the TWAS Award in Chemistry, the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Science and Technology Progress Award, and the 2nd Class Award for National Natural Science of China. As head of the CAS–TWAS Centre of Excellence for Green Technology and the International Green Technology Alliance, he has cultivated over 50 graduate students from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, etc., contributing greatly to exchanges and cooperation with developing countries.
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