Effect of Decoration of C@TiO2 Core-Shell Composites with Nano-Ag Particles on Photocatalytic Activity in 4-Nitrophenol Degradation
, Róża Lehmann, Anna Rokicińska, Tomasz Berniak, Marek Dębosz and Piotr Kuśtrowski *Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The article is a complete and harmonious scientific research. The article can be published with the correction of several comments:
1. Give a transcript of the abbreviations (A, R, B) in Figure 3 in the text (line:178-180) or in the legend
2. Please correct if this is a typo
...of graphite-like domains at ca. 22° and 44°, respectively,...
3. Correct if this is a typo in figure 4
...cm3/g
4.
a) Due to the lack of kinetic curves for the decomposition of nitrophenol in coordinates (concentration / time), the photocatalytic efficiency of the developed materials is not entirely obvious.
b) Based on the data in Figure 7, it can be concluded that the industrial powder (P25) decomposes nitrophenol in 3 hours in ultraviolet light, while the developed material (@TiO2/Ag_H2O) decomposes nitrophenol in 6 hours in visible light.
Based on a) and b), the reader may have a question about the appropriateness of the studies carried out in the work when the industrial material works more efficiently. Adjust the conclusions or description, or add non-logarithmic kinetic curves to avoid ambiguity.
Minor editing of English language required
Author Response
This manuscript describes a photoactive TiO2 materials based on a C@TiO2 core-shell structure synthesized according to the bottom-up strategy using a spherical resin core and its modification with Ag nanoparticles. The work has been carried out with care and the results have been presented with clarity and discussed appropriately. In this way, this manuscript demonstrates a significant contribution in the area of photocatalysis. Accordingly, I can recommend publication of this work in Catalysis after solving the issues detected.
Q: This investigation/manuscript should make a comparison of this methodology over others and demonstrate the improvement and advantage of this methodology over other methodologies.
A: The great advantage of our methodology is the use of low-power LED radiation sources. In the case of the UV source we used 3.2 W UV LED (Thorlabs), whereas power of UV sources applied in photocatalytic studies usually exceeds 10 W (or even 100 W). For our visible light emitting LED electrical power was 8.2 W, which generates maximum irradiance (declared by the producer) as 3.7 W/m2. In comparison with sunlight during clear day is 1000 W/m2. Those features force long exposition time (6 h) and low photodegradation yield.
Q: This investigation/manuscript should demonstrate a considerable improvement and better advantage of their results.
A: The comparison to other studies of Ag-doped TiO2 in 4-nitrophenol photodegradation in UV and visible light has been added to the revised manuscript.
Q: This investigation/manuscript should explain with values of yield the photodegradation of 4-nitrophenol and compare/demonstrate a considerable improvement and better advantage of their results.
A: The comparison to other studies of Ag-doped TiO2 in 4-nitrophenol photodegradation in UV and visible light has been added to the revised manuscript.
Reviewer 2 Report
This manuscript describes a photoactive TiO2 materials based on a C@TiO2 core-shell structure synthesized according to the bottom-up strategy using a spherical resin core and its modification with Ag nanoparticles. The work has been carried out with care and the results have been presented with clarity and discussed appropriately. In this way, this manuscript demonstrates a significant contribution in the area of photocatalysis. Accordingly, I can recommend publication of this work in Catalysis after solving the issues detected.
Issues:
- This investigation/manuscript should make a comparison of this methodology over others and demonstrate the improvement and advantage of this methodology over other methodologies.
- This investigation/manuscript should demonstrate a considerable improvement and better advantage of their results.
- This investigation/manuscript should explain with values of yield the photodegradation of 4-nitrophenol and compare/demonstrate a considerable improvement and better advantage of their results.
Author Response
This manuscript describes a photoactive TiO2 materials based on a C@TiO2 core-shell structure synthesized according to the bottom-up strategy using a spherical resin core and its modification with Ag nanoparticles. The work has been carried out with care and the results have been presented with clarity and discussed appropriately. In this way, this manuscript demonstrates a significant contribution in the area of photocatalysis. Accordingly, I can recommend publication of this work in Catalysis after solving the issues detected.
Q: This investigation/manuscript should make a comparison of this methodology over others and demonstrate the improvement and advantage of this methodology over other methodologies.
A: The great advantage of our methodology is the use of low-power LED radiation sources. In the case of the UV source we used 3.2 W UV LED (Thorlabs), whereas power of UV sources applied in photocatalytic studies usually exceeds 10 W (or even 100 W). For our visible light emitting LED electrical power was 8.2 W, which generates maximum irradiance (declared by the producer) as 3.7 W/m2. In comparison with sunlight during clear day is 1000 W/m2. Those features force long exposition time (6 h) and low photodegradation yield.
Q: This investigation/manuscript should demonstrate a considerable improvement and better advantage of their results.
A: The comparison to other studies of Ag-doped TiO2 in 4-nitrophenol photodegradation in UV and visible light has been added to the revised manuscript.
Q: This investigation/manuscript should explain with values of yield the photodegradation of 4-nitrophenol and compare/demonstrate a considerable improvement and better advantage of their results.
A: The comparison to other studies of Ag-doped TiO2 in 4-nitrophenol photodegradation in UV and visible light has been added to the revised manuscript.
