Fabrication of TaON/CdS Heterostructures for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution under Visible Light Irradiation
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors reported an interesting work using TaON/CdS nanocomposites as photocatalysts for enhanced H2 evolution. The paper is well written and the work itself is novel and of general interest. However, there are still some experiments, discussion and references missing. Therefore, the following questions must be addressed.
1. It is really hard to tell the difference between TaON and CdS from the current SEM data in Figure 1c-e. Some zoomed-in SEM images could be added into supporting information.
2. The authors claimed that “ It was noted that some of the CdS nanoparticles decomposed into smaller polyhedral particles in the composites via the hydrothermal process, increasing the active areas for photocatalysis.” Any evidence of the CdS decomposition? I cannot tell from the SEM. Besides, any reference to support that CdS would decompose during the hydrothermal process?
3. The advantages of heterojunction nanocomposite photocatalysts should be further introduced, such as preventing the back charge transfer and enhanced light absorption. Some recent important examples of heterojunction photocatalysis(https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.1c00785; https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CC05211D)must be cited.
4. Figure 6a, why there are strong scattering for all the samples?
5. Following question 4, I am not sure how authors measured those insoluble materials in a quartz cell, as they stated in the methods section. For solid state/power sample measurement, light reflection must be considered.
6. The equations along with the discussion/description that authors used to get Figure 6b from Figure 6a must be added either in Method section or supporting information.
7. A control experiment only without light could also be added.
8. Any references support for the claim “excessive TaON particles led to the descend in the photocatalytic performance by blocking the light absorption of CdS and reducing the contact of active sites to sacrificial agents.”
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
The manuscript titled " Fabrication of TaON/CdS heterostructures for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation"
In this manuscript, the authors successfully prepared composites consisted of TaON/CdS hybrids via a hydrothermal process and investigated as high-performance photocatalysts for H2 production. The accomplished samples performance is impressive. Therefore, I would like to recommend published this work after addressing the following points:
1. The conclusion is also not targeted to the important aspects described in the manuscript; please rephrase it.
2. In experimental section, please provide the purity of your chosen precursors.
3. In experimental section, the conditions used for all characterization techniques should be added.
4. Introduction is well-organized and well-written, but the importance and novelty of the research should be highlighted and more clearly stated. The authors give some examples of works in the bibliography, but which is the advantage of their work in comparison with those works.
5. Some minor Language error should be modified
6. In the introduction part, Some publications are suggested to refer to improve the quality of the manuscript, such as: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2022.03.067, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c03735, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-022-02389-8.
7. The authors claimed that TaON existed in the SEM and TEM images in a specific region in the picture, Why they referred it to TaON not CdS?
8. The author should better improve the beauty and quality of the figures in the manuscript.
9. Author Should provide more information about the preparation technique, in which the procedure of the method used is not unclear.
10. All figures, lack of error bar for the obtained data?
11. what about cycle stability of the prepared catalysts, and after cycle stability of adsorption reaction, whether morphology and crystal structure of the catalysts were changes?
12. The comparison on catalytic activity of as-prepared samples with some typical mesoporous silica-based catalysts ever reported should be added.
13. In the activity test for photocatalytic reactions, the main reason for high activity shall be discussed and the main role of TaON should be stated.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Reviewer’s comments
Manuscript Number: catalysts-1918650
Title: Fabrication of TaON/CdS heterostructures for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation
Journal: Catalysts
The work reports H2 production using TaON/CdS heterostructures. The manuscript is well organized, and the material is fully characterized. However, some revisions are needed as follows:
- Other experimental parameters must be investigated, such as catalyst dose, etc.
2. Deep correlation between structural/morphological findings and catalytic performance should be discussed.
- The aim of this study is not clear. The novelty should be clearly mentioned.
- The elemental composition (Ta:Cd) should be provided.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The revised version looks pretty good
Reviewer 2 Report
Accepted in the present form
