Journal of Physical Chemistry

Journal of Physical Chemistry
Title	Journal of Physical Chemistry
Discipline	Physical chemistry
Abbreviation	J. Phys. Chem.
Publisher	American Chemical Society
Country	United States
History	1896–present
Frequency	Weekly
Openaccess	Hybrid
Impact	3.3 (2022)
ISSN	0022-3654
EISSN	1541-5740
Website	https://pubs.acs.org/journal/jpchax
Editor	Gregory V. Hartland

Journal of Physical Chemistry. It is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Chemical Society covering fundamental research in all areas of physical chemistry. Established in the late 19th century, it has become one of the most cited and authoritative publications in its field, publishing original articles, letters, and special issues. The journal is renowned for its rigorous review process and contributions from leading researchers at institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of California, Berkeley, and the Max Planck Society.

History

The journal was founded in 1896 by Wilder D. Bancroft, who served as its first editor while a professor at Cornell University. Its early volumes documented pivotal discoveries during the emergence of modern physical chemistry, featuring work by pioneers such as Gilbert N. Lewis and Irving Langmuir. For much of its history, it was published as a single title until 1997, when it split into two separate publications: Journal of Physical Chemistry A and Journal of Physical Chemistry B, to better accommodate the growing scope of the discipline. A third section, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, was launched in 2007, followed by Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters in 2010, creating a family of journals under the American Chemical Society umbrella.

Scope

The journal publishes research encompassing experimental, theoretical, and computational studies across the broad spectrum of physical chemistry. Key areas include spectroscopy, surface science, statistical mechanics, chemical kinetics, quantum chemistry, and nanoscience. It features investigations into catalysis, atmospheric chemistry, biophysical chemistry, and materials science, often involving techniques like X-ray diffraction and nuclear magnetic resonance. The scope explicitly covers interdisciplinary work at the boundaries with fields like chemical physics, condensed matter physics, and molecular biology, as evidenced by publications from researchers at Stanford University and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Publication Details

The journal is published weekly by the American Chemical Society from its headquarters in Washington, D.C.. It operates under a hybrid open-access model, allowing authors to choose between traditional subscription-based or open-access publication. All manuscripts undergo a rigorous single-blind peer review process managed by an editorial team. The publication is available in both print and electronic formats through the ACS Publications platform, with archival issues accessible via services like JSTOR and Web of Science. Special issues are frequently organized in collaboration with scientific societies such as the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

Impact and Indexing

It is consistently ranked among the top journals in the physical chemistry category by metrics such as the Journal Impact Factor. According to the Journal Citation Reports, it maintains a high citation count, reflecting its influence within the global research community. The journal is abstracted and indexed in major databases including Scopus, PubMed, Chemical Abstracts Service, and the Science Citation Index. Its articles are frequently cited in prominent publications like Nature, Science, and Angewandte Chemie, and it is a core resource for researchers at institutions like Harvard University and the California Institute of Technology.

Editorial Board

The editor-in-chief is Gregory V. Hartland of the University of Notre Dame, who oversees the journal's scientific direction and editorial standards. The editorial board comprises distinguished scientists from around the world, including members from Kyoto University, the Weizmann Institute of Science, and the University of Cambridge. This board is responsible for guiding the journal's policy, handling manuscript reviews, and commissioning perspective articles. Associate editors, often leading figures like Pratibha L. Gai and Martin T. Zanni, manage the peer review process for submissions within their specific areas of expertise.

Awards and Recognition

The journal administers and sponsors several prestigious awards within the American Chemical Society, most notably the ACS Award in Theoretical Chemistry and the Peter Debye Award in Physical Chemistry. It also features an annual series of lectures named after seminal contributors like Ahmed Zewail. Articles published in the journal have formed the basis for award-winning research, including studies recognized by the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, such as work on femtochemistry and super-resolution microscopy. The journal's special issues are often dedicated to honoring recipients of major awards from societies like the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Category:American Chemical Society academic journals Category:Physical chemistry journals Category:English-language journals Category:Publications established in 1896 Category:Weekly journals