Applied Nano—Five Years of Growth and Challenges

When I was first invited to lead the Editorial Board of Applied Nano in 2020, one question immediately came to mind: Do we really need another nano-journal? The answer came swiftly, echoing one of the most iconic statements in the history of science: “There is plenty of room at the bottom” [1]. That room, I argued, was expanding rapidly, as the scientific community increasingly recognized the potential of nanoscience to address real-world challenges [2].

Five years later, it is with great pleasure that I reflect on the remarkable progress of Applied Nano. The journal has grown rapidly in visibility and relevance, confirming that the space was indeed available—and needed.

In March 2025, Applied Nano was accepted for inclusion in Scopus, marking a major milestone in its academic recognition. The release of its first CiteScore (4.6) in June, followed by a real-time score of 5.9 as of October 2025 (https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/21101284705, accessed on 28 October 2025), reflects the journal’s growing impact in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Further affirming its quality, Applied Nano has also been included in the ICI Journals Master List for 2024 (https://journals.indexcopernicus.com/search/form?search=applied%20nano, accessed on 28 October 2025).

These achievements are a testament to the dedication of our editorial team, authors, and reviewers, who have consistently upheld high standards of scientific rigor. The journal recently published its 100th article, and over these five years, 20 papers have been cited more than ten times—an encouraging indicator of relevance and scholarly engagement. While these may seem modest figures, their upward trend highlights the journal’s ability to attract and disseminate outstanding research, including cover stories that highlight cutting-edge developments.

As applied nanoscience continues to evolve, so do the challenges it faces—complex, interdisciplinary, and increasingly urgent. Applied Nano is now entering a new phase, with the ambition of becoming a proactive and collaborative platform for the global scientific community.

We reaffirm our commitment to publishing high-quality contributions that directly engage with emerging challenges. The journal welcomes submissions from a broad range of disciplines—chemistry, physics, materials science, biosciences, medicine, environmental science, cultural heritage, energy, electronics, and photonics—provided they demonstrate clear practical relevance through the tools and methodologies of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Looking ahead, our goal is to contribute to a global community of researchers dedicated to solving real-world problems through nanoscale approaches. We are consolidating our Editorial Board and strengthening our peer-review process to ensure scientific excellence and timely publication.

I warmly invite the academic community to contribute to this endeavor by sharing their research with Applied Nano, and to help shape the future of applied nanoscience and nanotechnology.