I am considering submitting a manuscript to MDPI Catalysts as part of my PhD thesis work. I am aware that MDPI as a publisher has received some criticism regarding its open-access model, but I also noticed that Catalysts is ranked Q1 in Environmental Science and Q2 in Chemistry.

Since my university requires a Q2 journal for thesis inclusion, Catalysts seems like a good option, especially as my study is more fundamental in nature. However, I want to ensure that publishing here will not negatively impact my academic profile in the long run.

My main questions are:

1. Does Catalysts have a better reputation than other MDPI journals? Some MDPI journals are widely accepted, while others are more questionable—where does Catalysts stand?

2. Is it acceptable for an early-career researcher to publish in this journal before targeting higher-impact journals later in my career?

3. Have you had any experiences with publishing in Catalysts? How was the review process in terms of rigor and quality?

I appreciate any insights, especially from those familiar with Catalysts or the MDPI publishing model.