Application of Platinum Nanoparticles Decorating Mesoporous Carbon Derived from Sustainable Source for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis paper studied the Pt-MCM composite catalysts for the catalytic combustion of hydrogen evolution reaction. It needs a minor revision before it can be accepted. My comments and suggestions are as follows:
(1) How to prove that the carbon material used in this article is mesoporous carbon?
(2) It is recommended to add a Pt particle size distribution diagram in Figure 1.
(3) Figure 5 indicates that lowering the pH value can increase the reaction rate. What is the reason for this?
(4) If the pH value is further reduced, will the reaction rate continue to increase?
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript (catalysts-3051139) reported mesoporous carbon supported Pt catalyst for hydrogen production from NaBH4. The topic is to some extent interesting, however, there are many concerns should be addressed to make it publishable.
Comment 1: The advantage of HER from sodium borohydride compared to other resources such as H2O, ammonia borane should be analyzed more.
Comment 2: Meanwhile, in the introduction part, the author should provide the information that the key parameters influencing the catalytic activity of HER and the more recent progress on this catalytic reaction should be enriched.
Comment 3: The characterization details should be provided in the characterizations.
Comment 4: Please put the full name when the abbreviation appears at the first time, such as deionized (DI) water.
Comment 5: There are many spelling and grammar mistakes, such as "Derived from" in Line17 should be "derived from", "lower pH‘s’" in Line 21 should be "pH value". Please check the whole manuscript and make modifications carefully.
Comment 6: I can not see the scale bar clearly in Fig. 1b. And the lattice in Fig. 1c should be measured to prove the presence of Pt.
Commentg 7: Please provide the loading amount of Pt.
Comment 8: TOF, which is based on the reactivity per catalyst mass is recommended for the activity comparison.
Comment 9: For the catalyst deactivation, the author should provide the evidence for the catalyst leaching, rather than agglomeration or other reasons.
Comment 10: The more rencent literatures regarding the HER should be cited: Materials Horizons, 2024, 11, 2032 - 2040, Nano Research, 2023, 16, 6212–6219
Comments on the Quality of English Languageminor revision is needed for the english language.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsIn this manuscript, the authors provided a comprehensive study on the application of platinum nanoparticles decorating mesoporous carbon derived from sustainable source for the catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) from sodium borohydride (NaBH4). Overall, this work has good novelty. The data were well presented and the manuscript was well drafted. Based on these considerations, this manuscript is recommended for the journal Catalysts. However, prior to acceptance, the below detailed comments need to be carefully addressed to further improve the clarity and quality of the manuscript.
1. In line 110, the authors wrote “The concentrations of NaBH4 used were 0.00079 mol, 0.00095 mol and 0.0011 mol”. Please note (1) “mol” is not a unit for concentration; (2) the number “0.0011” is not consistent with that shown in Figure 4. Please double check these issues.
2. Related works on Pt catalyst can be included in the Introduction to appeal to a broader readership (e.g., J Mater Chem A, 2016, 4, 4516-4524).
3. Scheme 1 was plotted as a cycle process without showing which step is the first one. It would be better if the authors number these processes so that readers won’t get confused.
4. In the Introduction, related works on HER should be referenced to appeal to a broader readership (e.g., Materials Reports Energy, 2022, DOI: 10.1016/j.matre.2022.100144).
5. How was the amount of H2 generated quantified or characterized in this work? The authors might have missed this experimental detail in the Experimental section. Please kindly include this detail so that readers might have a better understanding.
6. Figure 7, y axis was written as a dimensionless parameter “ln(r)”. Please double check what “r” means here, and whether “ln(r)” should have a unit or not.
7. Figure 1b, scale bar is not clearly shown.
Author Response
See attached file!
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe authors have well addressed my comments. One minor revision is still needed in that the format of the Ref.7. Please carefully check.
