Today, ACS Energy Letters published its inaugural issue. I have been working with Editor-in-Chief Dr. Prashant Kamat, principal scientist at the University of Notre Dame’s Radiation Laboratory, to spread the word about this exciting new journal. Recently I connected with him to discuss the journal and its first issue. Read on to find out what […]
What is ACS Energy Letters all about?
Prashant Kamat: ACS Energy Letters reports new scientific advances in all aspects of energy research, including capture, conversion, and storage of energy. The demand for clean energy is driving solar and wind energy installations up more than 10% a year. Such renewable energy conversion systems need storage devices to match. Scientists around the globe are working on addressing these problems by designing new materials, providing innovative approaches for energy conversion and building new device architectures.
The fundamental understanding gained through these studies requires a quick way to publish new advances. This rapid-publication journal from the American Chemical Society offers researchers of diverse backgrounds a platform to quickly disseminate new advances towards developing clean-energy technologies.
The articles considered for publication must provide breakthrough research or significant new advances in the following topics:
- Energy materials, light harvesting assemblies
- Energy conversion processes (catalysis and photocatalysis)
- Solar fuels (hydrogen production, CO2 reduction)
- Inorganic, organic, and hybrid solar cells
- Photosynthesis and biofuels
- Fuel cells, storage batteries, and supercapacitors
- Plasmonics, OLEDs, and light display systems
- Tandem devices, piezoelectric and thermoelectric processes
Who should read ACS Energy Letters?
Prashant Kamat: The journal’s goal is to appeal to theoretical chemists, experimentalists, and energy-device makers who want to gain insights into new energy advances. In addition to scientific articles, regular features such as Energy Focus and Viewpoint articles are included to offer a broader perspective on energy-related issues and encourage community-based discussions. The Perspectives and Review articles offer overviews of emerging topics for a broader readership. The vibrant content of the journal should be of interest to all readers who are interested in gaining insight into the latest developments in energy research.
Why does the scientific community need a journal like this right now?
Prashant Kamat: Given the current thrust in energy research, it is important to have a publication platform to exchange ideas among different scientific disciplines. ACS Energy Letters fills the void for communicating new scientific advances in a rapid fashion. It is a go-to place for authors and readers to get the latest developments in the energy field. By creating a trustworthy publication platform for disseminating high-quality scientific research, we hope to raise the bar for energy journals.
What has been most fulfilling about launching this new journal?
Prashant Kamat: The excellent response we have received from our authors for publishing their finest research in the first issue is gratifying. Similarly, published articles have been extensively examined by our readers – several of these manuscripts have been downloaded more than 1,000 times within only a few weeks of publication. This shows our readership’s enthusiasm in recognizing the scientific advances published in ACS Energy Letters. The community-based discussions through Energy Focus and Viewpoint articles have also been well received.
Who should submit their work to ACS Energy Letters?
Prashant Kamat: Researchers who are interested in sharing their results with an ever-growing, increasingly diverse energy community.
What types of research are you looking forward to publishing over the next year?
Prashant Kamat: As time progresses many new ideas will be tested and advances will be made based on current research knowledge. We expect to see major breakthroughs in the area of energy storage, solar fuels, and display devices. ACS Energy Letters is looking forward to publishing breakthrough research in these and other energy-related areas.
