2024 Annual Report of Energy Materials

The year 2024 marked significant growth and achievements for Energy Materials (EM). Through the collective efforts of our editorial board, authors, reviewers, readers, and editorial team, the journal has gained substantial attention and attained remarkable academic influence and milestones. This report highlights the key accomplishments of EM in 2024 across five main aspects.

1. Journal Overview

1.1 Submissions and Publications

In 2024, EM received 313 submissions from 56 countries, doubling the submission volume compared to 2023. A total of 80 articles were published, representing a 47% growth from the previous year, with a rejection rate of 71% [Figure 1]. The journal successfully released six issues during the year [Figure 2]. Notably, 64 of the 80 articles (80%) qualified for Article Processing Charges (APC) waivers, amounting to a total savings of $160,000.

Figure 1: Annual Submission Volume, Publication Volume, and Rejection Rate

Figure 2: Covers of Articles Published in 2024

2. Journal Impact

2.1 Impact Factor

On June 20, 2024, EM achieved its first impact factor (IF) of 11.8, placing the journal in the top 10% of its categories. It ranked 14th among 171 journals in the “Energy & Fuels” category and 42nd among 439 journals in “Materials Science, Multidisciplinary”, earning a Q1 classification in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) [Figure 3]. (Source: Web of Science)

Figure 3: Journal Impact Factor and Ranking in Categories

2.2 Citation Performance

As of December 31, 2024, articles published in EM had been cited a total of 1,391 times. Publications from 2022-2023 contributed 958 citations of these citations. The average number of citations per article since the journal’s inception is 13.49, with a self-citation rate of 5.8%. Notably, articles from 2022-2023 saw an average of 20.49 citations per article, with a self-citation rate of 3.6% [Table 1]. (Source: Web of Science)

Table 1: Article Citation Performance

2.3 Highly Cited Articles in 2024

Eight articles published in 2024 surpassed the threshold for 'Highly Cited Papers' in the materials science field, marking them as top-cited articles of the year, according to Clarivate's InCites Essential Science Indicators [Table 2]. (Source: Web of Science, as of December 31, 2024)

Table 2: Energy Materials 2024 Highly Cited Papers

2.4 Citing Journals

In 2024, articles from EM were cited by a total of 276 journals. Of these, 69% were Q1 journals [Figure 4]. Table 3 displays detailed citation data for journals with an IF exceeding 10. (Source: Web of Science)

Figure 4: Citation Source Journal Distribution by Category

Table 3: Citing Journals with Impact Factor > 10 (Partial)

2.5 Social Media Engagement

EM maintained a robust presence on WeChat, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The official WeChat account, EnergyMaterials能源材料, gained 2,715 new followers in 2024, reflecting a 68% increase from 2023. The account recorded a total of 122,276 views, with 35 posts surpassing 1,000 views each. On Twitter, the journal's account (@OAE_EnergyMater) posted 452 tweets and attracted over 1,000 new followers.

3. Editorial Board

3.1 Editorial Board Composition Changes

In 2024, EM welcomed 25 distinguished scholars, including three Advisory Editors, five Associate Editors, and 17 new Editorial Board Members, further enhancing the journal's international reach [Figures 5-7].

By year-end, the Editorial Board comprised 83 members from 19 countries/regions, including China, South Korea, Australia, the United States, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Spain, Canada, Russia, Switzerland, Singapore, and more. Impressively, 13% of the members have an H-index exceeding 100, while 52% have an H-index above 60. (Source: Scopus, as of January 9, 2025)

Figure 5: Newly Appointed Advisory Editors in 2024

Figure 6: Newly Appointed Associate Editors in 2024

Figure 7: Newly Appointed Editorial Board Members in 2024

3.3 Editorial Board Meetings

In 2024, EM held a face-to-face editorial board meeting in Nanjing on May 23 to comprehensively review progress, develop future strategies, and present honorary awards to outstanding Editors [Figure 8].

Figure 8: 2024 Face-to-face Editorial Board Meeting (Nanjing)

Additionally, two online meetings for young editorial board members were held on February 26 and May 30, where we discussed journal promotion, submission optimization, and other key topics [Figure 9].

Figure 9: 2024 Two Online Young Editorial Board Meetings

4. Authors, Readers, and Reviewers

4.1 Author Distribution by Country/Region

In 2024, EM received submissions from authors in 56 countries, marking an increase of 30 new countries compared to 2023. This reflects the growing international impact of the journal.

4.2 Reader Distribution by Country/Region

In 2024, EM articles gained global recognition and engagement. The distribution of views and downloads across different countries/regions is as follows [Figure 10].

Figure 10: Distribution of Article Views and Downloads by Country

4.3 Reviewer Distribution by Country/Region

In 2024, 700 reviewers from 34 countries participated in the peer review process [Figure 11]. Their expert feedback has significantly enhanced the quality of submissions, providing a solid foundation for the journal's academic reputation. We sincerely thank our reviewers for their valuable contributions to academic development and look forward to continued collaboration.

Figure 11: 2024 Reviewer Distribution by Country/Region

5. Journal Promotion and Collaboration

5.1 Offline Activities

5.1.1 Academic Conference Hosting

From May 23 to 26, 2024, EM successfully hosted the 2nd Forum on Innovation and Development of New Energy Materials in Nanjing, attracting over 500 scholars [Figure 12].

Figure 12: The 2nd Forum on Innovation and Development of New Energy Materials

5.1.2 Participation in Academic Conferences

The Editorial staff participated in the Second National Conference on New Solar Cell Materials and Devices and the Chinese Materials Conference 2024 & the 2nd World Materials Conference [Figure 13]. During these events, we had in-depth discussions with over forty Editors, authors, and young Editorial Board Members [Figure 14].

Figure 13: The Second National Conference on New Solar Cell Materials and Devices / The Chinese Materials Conference 2024 & The 2nd World Materials Conference

Figure 14: Offline Interaction with Editors (Partial)

5.1.3 Journal Awards Ceremony

We held the EM Annual Awards Ceremony for 2024, presenting awards in categories such as Most Influential Paper, Excellent Papers, and Outstanding Reviewers [Figure 15].

Figure 15: 2024 Annual Journal Awards Ceremony

5.1.4 Author Training Sessions

On September 20, 2024, EM partnered with the School of Chemistry at Xi'an Jiaotong University to host an author training session, offering submission guidance for graduate students. The session aimed to help young researchers understand the manuscript submission process, improve their writing skills, and enhance their understanding of the expectations for high-quality academic publishing. [Figure 16].

Figure 16: Author Interaction at Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Chemistry

5.2 Online Activities

5.2.1 Online Interviews

This year, we launched the Academic Talks to promote academic exchange, featuring interviews with new Associate Editors and Guest Editors, including Professor Guan-Jie He, Professor Elie Paillard, and Professor Federico Bella [Figure 17]. These interviews provided valuable insights into the editorial process and highlighted the diverse expertise and leadership within the EM editorial team. Through such initiatives, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the journal's mission and the essential role that high-quality research plays in advancing the field. You can find more details and interviews here: https://www.oaepublish.com/energymater/academic_talks.

Figure 17: Scholar Interviews

5.2.2 Media Partnerships

In 2024, we formed media collaborations with six international conferences (held in Australia, the USA, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Portugal) for mutual promotion and exchange of banners [Figure 18].

Figure 18: Media Partnership Conferences

6. Conclusion

In 2024, EM made groundbreaking progress in submission volume, publication quality, IF, internationalization, and academic influence. This success is the result of the concerted efforts of our editorial board, authors, reviewers, and readers. Looking forward, EM remains committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing practices. We will continue to prioritize transparency, fairness, and the rigorous peer review process to ensure that only the highest-quality research is published. As we strive for excellence, we are dedicated to fostering a collaborative, inclusive environment that supports global scientific advancement. Moving forward, EM will further strengthen its international presence, expand its interdisciplinary focus, and support the next generation of researchers in the energy materials field. We remain steadfast in our mission to provide an impactful platform for cutting-edge research and to contribute to the sustainable development of energy technologies worldwide.

Editor: Dasia Luo
Language Editor: Emma Chen
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Energy Materials (EM)