Aims and scope
Chemistry Africa is an international peer-reviewed journal published by Springer on behalf of the Tunisian Chemical Society (TCS) as an extension of the historical Journal de la Société Chimique de Tunisie. In addition to its international reach as host of the latest research on theory and practice in all fields of chemistry, Chemistry Africa aims to highlight chemistry research in Africa, in particular, studies that address the societal challenges faced by Africa by providing solutions to major problems. In this context, the TCS recognizes the role of chemistry in helping to achieve the UN’s 17 SDGs and is committed to collaborate with other chemical societies to identify solutions to global challenges.
The journal is seeking innovative research articles, reviews, and communications in all fields of chemistry from Africa and from all over the world. In particular, it encourages the submission of research studies and short tutorial reviews on timely topics. Moreover, cross-disciplinary research studies are highly encouraged, as long as chemistry constitutes the core of the paper.
Authors are required to provide full transparency of their methodologies in their manuscripts and supporting information for the reader to understand and potentially follow the methodologies. This will include all information regarding instrumentation, including their calibration, chemicals and reagents to detail the supplier, location and for reagents the grade/quality. In addition, all information to provide confidence in measured data is provided in full for the reader to understand the uncertainty on the measured data e.g. provision of information for analytical quality checks – QCs, reference materials, with all data provided for accuracy and precision. Where method description is truncated by reference to cited methods, they must be searchable and free to access. Supporting evidence including QC or reference material data to support accuracy and precision consideration could be included in supplementary information in full. Authors will be required at the point of submitting their papers to confirm in the journal submission portal that sufficient transparency for how the measured data was produced has been provided in the manuscript or supporting information.
Upon submission, authors are invited to provide a novelty statement. Submitted manuscripts will be scrutinized by the Executive Editor-in-Chief who will then assign them to the Editors-in-Chief and/or Associate Editors to start a double-blind peer-review process.
The five main topics covered by the journal encompass the subtopics below:
Topic 1. ORGANIC & ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY
Topic 1.1. Design & Synthesis of Organic Architectures
Topic 1.2. Phytochemistry & Medicinal Natural Products
Topic 1.3. Organometallic & Coordination Chemistry
Topic 1.4. Bioconjugate & Bioanalytical Chemistry
Topic 2. INORGANIC, SOLID-STATE CHEMISTRY & CATALYSIS
Topic 2.1. Metals & Metal Alloys
Topic 2.2. Ceramics, Glasses & Inorganic Polymers
Topic 2.3. Designed Cements & Concretes
Topic 2.4. Crystallography
Topic 2.5. Thermodynamics, Energetics & Process Engineering
Topic 2.6. Catalysis
Topic 3. STRUCTURAL, ANALYTICAL & PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
Topic 3.1. Spectroscopy, Diffraction & Scattering Techniques
Topic 3.2. Separation Sciences
Topic 3.3. Chemometrics
Topic 3.4. Computational Chemistry & Modelling
Topic 3.5. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Topic 3.6. Electrochemical Processes & Electroanalysis
Topic 3.7. Water Sciences & Environment
Topic 3.8. Corrosion & Bio-Based Corrosion Inhibitors
Topic 3.9. Water Sciences & Environment
Topic 3.10. (Bio)Sensors
Topic 4. FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS & COMPOSITES
Topic 4.1. Organic Polymers, Colloids & (Nano)Composites
Topic 4.2. Biomacromolecules & Biomass
Topic 4.3. Nanomaterials & Nanostructures
Topic 4.4. Surface Modification & Surface Analysis
Topic 4.5. Stimuli Responsive & Biomimetic Materials
Topic 4.6. Flexible & Wearable Functional Materials
Topic 4.7. Additive Manufacturing-3D Printing
Topic 4.8. Self-Healing Materials
Topic 5. CHEMISTRY IN SOCIETY
5.1. Green Chemistry for Sustainable Development
5.2. Chemistry for Renewable and Sustainable Energy
5.3. Adsorbents & Membrane Systems for Clean Water
5.4. Waste to Wealth (Valorization of Waste and Greenhouse Gases)
5.5. Indicators of Environmental Quality
5.6. Chemistry in Extreme Conditions (Arid Regions, Highly Humid Areas, Brackish Waters)
5.7. Chemistry in Forensic Science
5.8. Chemical Education
The evaluation process:
After an initial technical check and screening for English quality, all new submissions are automatically checked for similarity with published works. They are then assigned to the Executive Editor-in-Chief (Executive EiC) who asse sses their scientific quality, timeliness and relevance to the journal. Afterward, he assigns each paper to the relevant EiC expert (according to the major topic of the paper), to an Associate Editor (AE) or to an Editorial Board Member (if a paper cannot be handled by the AEs) who is specialized in the paper’s topic. Sometimes, the Executive EiC handles papers himself and directly invites reviewers.
All manuscripts are subject to a double-blind peer review process over at least 2 rounds. Papers are not accepted for publication until all important issues have been properly addressed by the authors. A rejection can occur during the revision rounds if major concerns are not addressed. Rebuttals by the authors to issues raised are systematically checked by the respective reviewer(s) and editor(s).
The average time from submission until final decision is 100 days. Acceptance rate is around 36%. The journal publishes three regular issues and one special issue annually.
Journal's editorial meetings:
The Executive Editor-in-Chief meets the board of the Tunisian Chemical Society, some of the Journal's editors and the Springer Publishing Editor once a year to discuss the Journal’s progress. Initiatives are then taken to improve the general scientific quality of the Journal, increase its visibility, shorten the decision-making process, invite new editors to join the editorial board and suggest ideas for new special issues. The whole Journal editorial board is then informed.
Editorial policy:
Moreover, the journal is committed to upholding the integrity of the scientific record. Authors should refrain from misrepresenting research results which could damage the trust in the journal and ultimately the entire scientific endeavour. Maintaining integrity of the research and its presentation can be achieved by following the rules of good scientific practice as detailed at https://www.springer.com/us/editorial-policies.