This year we are pleased to celebrate 10 years since Journal of Materials Chemistry was split into three respective journals: Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B and C, each focusing on a different aspect of materials chemistry. We are grateful to our fantastic community of authors, reviewers, Board members and readers and wanted to showcase just some of them in a series of ‘Community Spotlight’ blog articles.
Next in our ‘Community Spotlight’ series, we feature some of our authors who have supported us by publishing in Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B or C regularly over the last ten years. We have asked them what they like most about publishing with the journal and how their research has evolved over the years. Check out their interview responses below.
Prof. Ghim Wei Ho
What do you like most about Journal of Materials Chemistry A as a place to publish your latest materials chemistry research?
What I appreciate most about Journal of Materials Chemistry A as a platform for publishing my latest materials chemistry research is the journal’s commitment to showcasing high-quality, cutting-edge research. The rigorous peer-review process and the esteemed editorial board ensure that the published works maintain a high standard, which adds value to the research community. Additionally, the wide readership and accessibility of the journal facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and allow for fruitful collaborations.
How has your research evolved from your first Journal of Materials Chemistry A article to your most recent publication in the journal?
The evolution of my research from my first Journal of Materials Chemistry A article to my most recent publication in the journal is evident in the breadth and depth of the topics explored. My first publication focused on the development of a cost-effective optical technique for real-time monitoring of nucleation and growth dynamics in Ga:ZnO films. This work demonstrated the potential for controlled, low-cost aqueous routes to produce high-quality transparent conductor films. Fast forward to my latest publication, which is a review of the recent advances in atmospheric water harvesting and moisture-enabled energy generation technologies. This demonstrates the progression in my research interests, moving from materials synthesis and characterization to broader applications in sustainability and energy conversion. Throughout this journey, the Journal of Materials Chemistry A has provided an excellent platform for sharing my research with the scientific community.
Prof. Guoping Chen
What do you like most about Journal of Materials Chemistry B as a place to publish your latest materials chemistry research?
I think Journal of Materials Chemistry B is one of the most prestigious journals in the field of materials chemistry. It bridges a broad scope in materials chemistry from fundamental research to biological and medical applications. Its high quality, reputation and broad readership provide an excellent opportunity to rapidly share and disseminate the latest research findings in the community.
What made you decide to keep publishing your work with the journal over the past years?
In addition to the high quality, the fast turn-around time and good service are very attractive. There are many channels for authors to communicate and discuss their manuscripts with the editors.
How has your research evolved from your first Journal of Materials Chemistry B article to your most recent publication in the journal?
Significant progress has been made in our research since our first Journal of Materials Chemistry B article that is related to bioactive scaffolds was published in 2014. Reading the high-quality articles in this journal allows us to follow the innovative knowledge and latest development in materials chemistry. We have been incorporating some novel ideas and methods in our research to synthesize bioadaptive materials with more biomimetic structures and higher functions.
Prof. Antonio Facchetti
What made you decide to keep publishing your work with Journal of Materials Chemistry C over the past years?
Since my research spans from new synthetic methodologies to engineering of devices based on novel materials, JMCC is ideal to disseminate very novel results to a broad audience comprising scientists from academia, national labs and industrial research laboratories.
How has your research evolved from your first Journal of Materials Chemistry C article to your most recent publication in the journal?
I have been interested in developing materials for opto-electronics for my entire career. However, while my initial work had more emphasis in the molecular design and synthetic aspects of electro-optic and electron transporting semiconductors now I am more focussed on combining new materials for different device functions particularly where photonic and electronic signals are coupled and ionic-electronic conductors for bioelectronics.
Prof. Jean’ne Shreeve
What do you like most about Journal of Materials Chemistry A as a place to publish your latest materials chemistry research?
Having grown up with various Royal Society of Chemistry journals, we expected that this new venture, Journal of Materials Chemistry, would be high class. We were not disappointed nor surprised when the manuscript quality and pressure demanded division into three journals with one – Journal of Materials Chemistry A having a main focus on the materials for energy, including materials for energy storage and conversion, conservation of scarce natural resources and sustainability and green processes. This enables attraction of the very best science resulting in a surging publication pressure leading to an almost sky rocketing Impact Factor value. The Journal of Materials Chemistry A has led the way as the progress and direction of these fields have been modified with changing sophistication and interest of the science.
What made you decide to keep publishing your work with the journal over the past years?
Being published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A acknowledges that the work being done in our lab is at the very top of the field and that it will share pages in every issue only with the very best. This will tend to draw attention to our chemistry while simultaneously keep us up to date as we peruse the contents of each issue.
Prof. Neil Robertson
What do you like most about Journal of Materials Chemistry A as a place to publish your latest materials chemistry research?
I have always found that the J. Mater. Chem. journal family, and RSC journals more generally, are run for the benefit of the chemistry community, with high editorial standards and a commitment to strive towards diversity and inclusion.
What made you decide to keep publishing your work with the journal over the past years?
The quality and constructive approach of referees has provided very valuable feedback on manuscripts and has greatly helped to improve the final published papers. I’m always very grateful to referees for their expert input and advice.
Prof. Cheol Seong Hwang
What made you decide to keep publishing your work with the Journal of Materials Chemistry C over the past years?
The journal’s review process has always been plausibly accurate and timely. In addition, the reviewer selections have been encouraging, and their comments were generally helpful in improving the quality of the submission. Besides, many other journals, mainly from commercial publishers, went to commercialize their products. As a result, the review process has been degraded, although their journal’s impact factors have been increased. Journal of Materials Chemistry C has not been strived in this way, rendering it a notable venue for sincere scientific work in the field.
Which of your Journal of Materials Chemistry C publications would you say you are most proud of and why?
Jeon et al., Enhanced Pseudo-Atomic Layer Deposition of Antimony Telluride Thin Films by Co-injecting NH3 Gas with Both Precursors (DOI: 10.1039/d3tc00007a). The reviewers have very favourably reviewed this work, and, as a result, the paper has been selected as the cover paper of the 10th-anniversary issue of the journal.
Thank you to all of our loyal and regular authors for their support of the Journal of Materials Chemistry family of journals over the years.
We hope you enjoyed finding out more about some of our authors. Keep an eye out for our next ‘Community Spotlight’!
If you missed any of our previous ‘Community Spotlight’ blog posts, check them out here.