Advanced Functional Polymers and Nanocomposites

Author's Guideline

Streamlined Submission Process
Advanced Functional Polymers and Nanocomposites provides a modern, user-friendly online submission and manuscript tracking system designed to make the publishing process smooth and efficient. Authors can submit their work directly via the Journal Management System (JMS).

To accelerate review and publication, authors are strongly encouraged to prepare manuscripts in full compliance with these guidelines before submission.

Essential Notes for Authors

  • Submit only high-quality images—avoid low-resolution graphics, excessively large files, or those compressed with tools such as ZipIt or StuffIt.
  • Oversized images may delay submission. When possible, convert them to JPEG format at the highest available resolution.
  • Initial editorial screening is typically completed within 7 days of submission. Peer review generally requires 2–3 weeks, making it possible for accepted papers to be published within 4–6 weeks of initial submission.

Acknowledgements
All statements, findings, and interpretations must be supported with appropriate references. Contributions—whether major or minor—should be formally acknowledged to prevent potential disputes later.

Short Communications
Brief but complete reports (around 1,500 words including tables and figures) are welcome. These should present conclusive findings, be clearly written, and avoid preliminary or incomplete results.

Special / Thematic Issues
From time to time, the journal publishes special editions dedicated to emerging or highly discussed topics. These may be based on invited conference papers or thematic collections. Special issues may include review articles, original research, and short notes. Guest Editors are appointed by the journal, though researchers may also propose topics.

Proofs
Final PDF proofs will be sent to the corresponding author (or the first-listed author if none is designated) before publication. Authors must return corrected proofs within 72 hours.
At this stage, changes should be limited to typographical or formatting corrections—late revisions cannot be guaranteed for inclusion.

Manuscript Preparation and Format

  • File formats: MS Word (.doc/.docx) or LaTeX.
  • Clearly describe your research methods, principal results, and their interpretation.
  • Cite all figures, tables, and references within the text, with accompanying captions or legends.
  • Manuscripts must be written in fluent English. Non-native speakers are strongly advised to have their work professionally proofread prior to submission.

Required Structure for Research Articles

  1. Title
  2. Authors and affiliations
  3. Corresponding author’s contact details
  4. Abstract
  5. Keywords (6–8)
  6. Introduction
  7. Materials and Methods
  8. Results
  9. Discussion
  10. Conclusion
  11. List of Abbreviations (if applicable)
  12. Funding information (if applicable)
  13. Conflict of Interest statement
  14. Acknowledgements
  15. References
  16. Appendices (if any)
  17. Figures and Tables
  18. Supplementary Material (if any)

Title & Abstract

  • Title: Must be concise, specific, and under 130 characters.
  • Abstract: Provide a clear summary of the study’s objective, methodology, and conclusions.

Materials and Methods
Include sufficient detail to allow replication of the study. Mention data sources, ethical approvals (if required), and specific analytical or experimental procedures used.

Results & Discussion

  • Results: Present key findings in a logical order, without repeating data across text, tables, and figures.
  • Discussion: Interpret results in the context of existing research, focusing on significance and implications.
    Results and discussion may be presented separately or combined.

Conclusion
Briefly summarize the main outcomes of the study and, if relevant, outline potential directions for further research.

Funding & Conflict of Interest
Fully disclose funding sources, including grant numbers where applicable. If no funding was received, state that the research was institutionally or personally supported. Declare any conflicts of interest.

Technical Specifications

  • Units: Use SI units; provide conversions for any non-standard units.
  • Symbols: Define unusual symbols within the text or in an appendix.
  • Abbreviations: Define upon first use or list separately.
  • Appendices: For detailed but essential methodological content.
  • Endnotes: Preferred over footnotes for better readability.

References
Follow Vancouver style:

  • Number references in the order they appear in the text.
  • Use standard journal abbreviations (Index Medicus/MEDLINE).
  • List all authors if there are three or fewer; for more, list the first three followed by et al.

Examples:
[1] Smith SD, Jones AD. Organ donation. N Engl J Med. 2001;657:230–5.
[2] Brown JG. Asphyxiation. Med J Aust. 2003;432:120–4.

Figures & Tables

  • Figures: Number sequentially, include captions, and submit separately in TIFF/JPEG (≥300 dpi) or EPS (≥800 dpi).
  • Tables: Number in Arabic numerals, provide clear titles, ensure visible cell borders, and cite each table in the text.

This refined guide ensures that manuscripts submitted to Functional Thin Films and Energy Materials meet professional standards, enabling a faster and smoother path to publication.