Effects of Reaction Temperature on the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO₂ with Pd and Cu Cocatalysts

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript “Effects of Reaction Temperature on the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO₂ with Pd and Cu Cocatalysts” talks about modifying TiO₂ P25 with palladium and copper nanoparticles and studying the effect of temperature on the photocatalytic decomposition of MB under UV light irradiation.

The article is written in the form of a report on the done quite interesting work. Unfortunately, I did not have enough discussion of the results in this work. The authors did not attempt to interpret the interesting experimental results obtained. What is the role of nanoparticles of various metals deposited on the TiO₂ P25 surface in the process of thermally stimulated photocatalysis? What is the role of Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance in this process and whether temperature influences it.

 

1. From the introduction of the article, it is not clear why, firstly, titanium dioxide was modified, and secondly, why exactly Pd and Cu. It is necessary to supplement the introduction.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2015.03.064

10.1155 / 2012/532843

10.1021/ja076503n

doi: 10.20964/2018.05.08

https://doi.org/10.1039/C5NR03659C

https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995078012050102

2. In many places, subscripts are ignored (for example, lines 49, 80, 104, etc.)
3. It is necessary to describe the synthesis procedure in more detail. What concentrations were taken, how much powder, etc.
4. What is the elemental ratio obtained from the EDS data? Does this correspond to the 0.5 wt.% Specified in the method?
5. Show XRD spectra. It is important to understand whether the structure and phase of the initial TiO₂ Р25 change after modification.
6. It is not clear how Lines 104-109 are related to this research!
7. Figure 5-7 is of very poor quality. This is unacceptable and spoils the perception of the results of the work. Subscripts are ignored in axis labels (ln (C₀/C))

The name of the figures "Photodegradation of Pd/TiO₂ at different reaction temperatures" is not very correct. It needs to be redone. Maybe better "Photocatalytic degradation efficiency of MB at different reaction temperatures using of Pd/TiO₂"

8. On line 121-122, the authors write: “It is known that the adsorption capacity of Pd/TiO₂ is greater than that of TiO₂.”, but no data is provided to support this.
9. Why are semi-logarithmic curves not plotted for all points? For some experiments, a linear approximation is made at 3 points. If all experimental points are not described by a linear function in the coordinates ln (C₀/C) – t, then how legitimate is it to speak about the pseudo-first-order reaction according to the Langmuir – Hinshelwood (LH) model.
10. It would be very nice and valuable to present thermodynamic calculations. For example, as in work: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876107016301493

This would greatly increase the value of the research and the reader's interest.

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors have used P25 as model TiO2 and used it for photocatalytic degradation of MB through Pd and Cu as cocatalyst and they have studied the effect of temperature on this reaction. I think this work will not be so novel unless the authors study the temperature effect on either of pure anatase phase and rutile phase because P25 is a mixture of two phases and cannot be that much interesting for publication. 

There are also minor comments that should be taken into account:

1-Introduction should cover the recent advances in the field of TiO2 such as the following paper:  Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2021, 297, 120380; Inorganic chemistry 58 (2019), 7989-7996; Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2021, 285, 119755.

2-In the abstract and conclusion, the numerical values as findings and data should be added.

3-Furthermore, the English of the paper should be extensively improved. There are non-negligible errors in the manuscript that should be corrected. 

After considering and replying to the above comments, I will reconsider the paper for my final decision. 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

I think the results as they stand deserve to be published in the Catalysts journal.

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors have replied and applied the comments carefully and it can be accepted in the current format.