Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Editorial Board of “Chemistry, Physics and Technology of Surface” is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice.

The journal follows internationally recognized principles of publication ethics and editorial responsibility, including the recommendations and Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

 

The journal also supports the principles of:

All parties involved in the publication process – authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher – are expected to adhere to ethical standards and best editorial practices.

 

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to the journal must ensure that:

  • the submitted work is original and has not been published previously;
  • the manuscript is not under consideration by another journal simultaneously;
  • all data presented in the manuscript are accurate, authentic, and reliable;
  • all sources and references are properly acknowledged and cited;
  • plagiarism, data fabrication, and data falsification are strictly prohibited;
  • all listed authors have made a substantial contribution to the research;
  • all co-authors approve the final version of the manuscript;
  • conflicts of interest are fully disclosed;
  • sources of funding are properly acknowledged;
  • studies involving humans or animals comply with relevant ethical standards and institutional requirements.

Authors are responsible for the linguistic quality of the manuscript.

Authors are also responsible for promptly notifying the Editorial Office if a significant error or inaccuracy is discovered in their published work.

 

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for making publication decisions based on:

  • scientific significance;
  • originality;
  • methodological quality;
  • clarity of presentation;
  • relevance to the journal’s scope.

Editors evaluate manuscripts without discrimination based on race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, political beliefs, or institutional affiliation of the authors.

Editors and editorial staff must:

  • maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts;
  • avoid conflicts of interest;
  • ensure a fair and unbiased peer review process;
  • take reasonable steps to identify and prevent publication misconduct;
  • respond appropriately to ethical complaints and allegations.

The Editor-in-Chief has full authority regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts.

 

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers assist editors in making editorial decisions and contribute to improving the quality of published manuscripts.

Reviewers are expected to:

  • provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations;
  • maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts;
  • identify relevant published work not cited by the authors;
  • inform editors about possible plagiarism, duplicate publication, or ethical concerns;
  • decline review invitations in cases of conflicts of interest or insufficient expertise.

Reviewers must not use unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript for personal research purposes.

 

Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher supports the editorial independence of the journal and is committed to ethical publishing practices.

The publisher works together with editors to:

  • ensure the integrity of the scholarly record;
  • maintain publication ethics policies;
  • prevent commercial influence on editorial decisions;
  • publish corrections, clarifications, retractions, and apologies when necessary.

 

Editorial Independence Statement

The Editorial Board operates independently from the publisher and funding organizations.

 

Plagiarism and Research Misconduct

The journal does not tolerate any form of:

  • plagiarism;
  • self-plagiarism;
  • data fabrication or falsification;
  • citation manipulation;
  • authorship manipulation;
  • unethical research practices;
  • peer review manipulation.

Submitted manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism detection software such as StrikePlagiarism.

In cases of suspected misconduct, the Editorial Office will act in accordance with COPE guidelines and may:

  • request explanations from the authors;
  • contact the authors’ institutions;
  • reject manuscripts;
  • publish corrections or retractions;
  • suspend future submissions from authors involved in unethical practices.

 

Conflicts of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, institutional, personal, or other relationships that could influence the evaluation or interpretation of a manuscript.

Undisclosed conflicts of interest identified after publication may result in the correction or retraction of the article.

 

Data Access and Reproducibility

Authors may be asked to provide raw data, experimental details, or supplementary materials supporting the results presented in the manuscript.

Authors are encouraged to ensure transparency and reproducibility of research findings.

 

Ethical Oversight

Research involving humans, animals, hazardous materials, or confidential data must comply with relevant ethical and legal requirements.

Authors should provide information regarding ethical approval where applicable.

 

Corrections and Retractions

The journal may publish corrections, expressions of concern, or retract articles when necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Detailed procedures are described in the journal’s “Retraction, Corrections, and Research Integrity Policy”.

 

Open Access and Archiving

The journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that free availability of research supports the global exchange of scientific knowledge.

The journal ensures long-term digital preservation and accessibility of published content.

 

Policy Updates

The Editorial Board reserves the right to revise and update this policy in accordance with changes in international publication ethics standards and best editorial practices.

 

Last updated: 2026