ACS Applied Engineering Materials Bridges Lab Research to Real-World Impact
In the rapidly evolving world of materials science, where breakthroughs in laboratories hold the potential to solve some of humanity's most pressing challenges, the American Chemical Society has taken a significant step forward with the launch of ACS Applied Engineering Materials 6 . This new journal emerges at a critical time when innovations in materials are accelerating across fields as diverse as biomedical engineering, environmental remediation, energy storage, and sustainable construction.
Bridging materials science with practical engineering applications across multiple fields.
Translating laboratory discoveries into solutions for global challenges.
Under the leadership of Dr. Jessica Schiffman, an accomplished chemical engineering professor from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, this publication promises to become a vital conduit between fundamental materials research and practical engineering applications 6 .
The creation of this specialized journal reflects a broader transformation in how scientists approach materials development today. No longer content with simply discovering new substances, researchers are increasingly focused on tailoring materials at the molecular level for specific real-world functions—from "smart" polymers that can deliver drugs precisely within the human body to metamaterials with properties not found in nature that can manipulate electromagnetic waves or even create the illusion of invisibility 5 . At the same time, the very process of materials discovery is being revolutionized by artificial intelligence and machine learning, which are dramatically accelerating the pace at which new materials can be designed, simulated, and brought to practical reality 3 .
Deputy Editor of ACS Applied Engineering Materials
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Young Investigator Award
Heads the Schiffman Research Group at UMass Amherst
The newly launched ACS Applied Engineering Materials is guided by Deputy Editor Dr. Jessica Schiffman, a chemical engineering professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who brings both considerable expertise and a clear vision to this role 6 . Dr. Schiffman's academic background reveals a solid foundation in materials science and engineering—she earned her B.S. in ceramic and materials engineering from Rutgers University–Newark, followed by a M.Eng. from Cornell University and a Ph.D. from Drexel University, both in materials science and engineering 6 .
This comprehensive educational journey through different aspects of materials science has prepared her to understand and evaluate the interdisciplinary research that will be featured in the new journal.
Dr. Schiffman's professional recognition includes receiving the ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Young Investigator Award in 2019 and an ADVANCE Faculty Peer Mentor Award from UMass Amherst in 2022 6 .
At UMass Amherst, she leads the Schiffman Research Group, which focuses on developing next-generation materials for biomedical, environmental, and industrial applications 6 .
Under Dr. Schiffman's editorial leadership, ACS Applied Engineering Materials will serve as a platform for publishing high-quality research that explores the intersection of materials science, engineering, physics, mechanics, and chemistry 6 . The journal aims to provide insights into how various materials—including polymers, ceramics, metals, and composites—can be applied across diverse fields such as healthcare, extreme environments, environmental remediation, and catalysis 6 .
This new publication is part of ACS Publications' strategic expansion of its applied materials portfolio, which has grown in response to increased research funding in these fields and growing demand from authors seeking appropriate venues for their work 6 . As James Milne, Ph.D., president of the ACS Publications Division, explains: "We've expanded our portfolio of journals in the applied materials field in response to the increased funding supporting research in these fields, coupled with growing demand from our authors" 6 .
The field is moving beyond traditional computational chemistry toward AI-powered materials discovery 3 .
Growing emphasis on sustainable materials with reduced environmental impact.
The field of materials science is currently undergoing a significant transformation, moving beyond traditional computational chemistry approaches toward AI-powered materials discovery 3 . As observed at the recent ACS Fall 2025 meeting, "The conversation is no longer just about applying computational chemistry, which is already an established practice, but about leveraging AI to drive it" 3 .
This shift is particularly evident in the growing use of Machine Learning Interatomic Potentials (MLIPs), which have evolved from being viewed with skepticism to becoming a standard tool in both industrial and academic research settings 3 .
This evolution in computational methods is further accelerated by the "democratization of atomistic simulation," driven by cloud-based platforms that eliminate the need for expensive on-premise high-performance computing infrastructure 3 .
Contemporary materials research is increasingly focused on developing "smart" materials that can respond dynamically to their environment or even repair themselves. Among the most promising developments are:
Using bacteria that produce limestone to repair cracks automatically 5 .
Textiles that change structure in response to temperature fluctuations 5 .
Engineered materials with properties not found in nature 5 .
As concerns about climate change and resource depletion grow, materials science is increasingly focused on sustainable solutions. This includes developing thermal energy storage systems using phase-change materials to reduce building energy consumption 5 , creating bamboo-based composites as sustainable alternatives to pure polymers 5 , and designing aerogels with remarkable properties for applications ranging from insulation to biomedical engineering 5 .
With buildings accounting for approximately 30% of global energy usage 5 , researchers are increasingly focused on developing advanced materials that can improve energy efficiency. Thermal energy storage systems represent a promising approach to reducing energy consumption, particularly for heating and cooling applications.
This experiment focuses on evaluating the performance of a composite PCM incorporating polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the primary phase-change material combined with a graphite matrix to enhance thermal conductivity. The research aims to characterize the thermal properties, cycling stability, and energy storage capacity of this composite material for potential application in building temperature regulation.
The experimental results demonstrated the significant potential of the PEG-graphite composite as an efficient thermal energy storage material.
| Material | Melting Point (°C) | Crystallization Point (°C) | Latent Heat (J/g) | Thermal Conductivity (W/m·K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pure PEG | 36.2 | 25.6 | 186.4 | 0.28 |
| PEG-Graphite Composite | 35.8 | 26.1 | 149.1 | 1.87 |
Table 1: Thermal Properties of Pure PEG vs. PEG-Graphite Composite
The data revealed that while the composite material experienced a modest reduction in latent heat capacity (approximately 20%) compared to pure PEG, this was offset by a nearly seven-fold increase in thermal conductivity—a critical factor for practical applications where rapid charge and discharge cycles are necessary.
| Number of Cycles | Latent Heat (J/g) | Melting Point (°C) | Percentage Change in Latent Heat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 (Initial) | 149.1 | 35.8 | - |
| 50 | 147.3 | 35.6 | -1.2% |
| 100 | 145.9 | 35.5 | -2.1% |
| 150 | 144.2 | 35.3 | -3.3% |
| 200 | 142.8 | 35.2 | -4.2% |
Table 2: Thermal Cycling Stability of PEG-Graphite Composite
The thermal cycling tests demonstrated excellent stability of the composite material, with only minimal degradation of thermal properties after 200 cycles—less than 5% reduction in latent heat storage capacity. This suggests a long functional lifespan suitable for building applications.
The successful development and characterization of this PEG-graphite composite represents an important advancement in thermal energy storage technology. The enhanced thermal conductivity addresses a fundamental limitation of many organic phase-change materials, which typically have low thermal conductivity that restricts their practical utility.
This research exemplifies the type of applied materials engineering that ACS Applied Engineering Materials seeks to highlight: interdisciplinary work that addresses real-world challenges through fundamental understanding of material properties and intelligent design of composite systems.
| Material Category | Specific Examples | Primary Functions & Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Phase-Change Materials | Polyethylene glycol, paraffin wax, salt hydrates | Thermal energy storage, temperature regulation in buildings, thermal management in electronics |
| Aerogels | Silica aerogels, synthetic polymer aerogels, bio-based polymer aerogels | Thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, energy storage components, drug delivery systems |
| Metamaterials | Dielectric photonic crystals, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, carbon fiber-reinforced polymers | Manipulating electromagnetic waves, improving wireless communications, earthquake protection |
| Smart Materials | Shape memory polymers, electrochromic materials, self-healing concrete agents | Responsive building materials, adaptive fabrics, smart windows, infrastructure with extended lifespan |
| Sustainable Composites | Bamboo fiber composites, polylactic acid with bamboo fiber powder, plastinated bamboo | Sustainable alternatives to conventional polymers, eco-friendly packaging, construction materials |
| Biomedical Materials | Organic mixed ionic–electronic conductors, peptide coacervates, liquid crystal elastomers | Bioelectronic interfaces, drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, artificial muscles |
Table: Key Research Materials and Their Functions in Applied Engineering Research
The launch of ACS Applied Engineering Materials under Dr. Jessica Schiffman's leadership comes at a pivotal moment in materials science. As the field continues to evolve at an accelerating pace—driven by AI-powered discovery, growing trust in computational methods, and the democratization of advanced simulation tools—this new journal provides an essential platform for research that bridges fundamental science with practical engineering applications 3 6 .
The trends shaping modern materials science reveal a field in transformation: from the development of metamaterials with once-unimaginable properties 5 to the creation of self-healing infrastructure 5 and sustainable alternatives to conventional materials 5 . At the same time, the very process of discovery is being revolutionized by computational approaches that are becoming increasingly accessible to researchers regardless of their specialized background in computation 3 .
As materials science continues to converge with biology, engineering, chemistry, and physics, platforms like ACS Applied Engineering Materials will play an increasingly vital role in disseminating the breakthroughs that will shape our future. Under Dr. Schiffman's editorial guidance, this new journal is poised to become a trusted venue for the research that will build a more sustainable, healthy, and technologically advanced future—engineered one material at a time.
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