The BCL Method for DSSC: Basis and Applications†
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
My comments are as follows:
- The formats of figures should be unified.
- The Figure 5 (2.3.1) was incomplete.
Author Response
- Reviewer: The formats of figures should be unified.
Answer: The formats of figures were unified
Reviewer: The Figure 5 (2.3.1) was incomplete.
Answer: it was corrected
Reviewer 2 Report
The author reported a BCL method based on a system of equations that uses TDDFT calculations to obtain a theoretical index, the Global Efficiency Index (GEI), for the efficiency of a sensitized solar cell. The GEI is obtained through the product of three factors, the available energy for injection, the amount of charge injected, and the efficiency of regeneration. This method provides theoretical tools that allow understanding of the operation of the cell, and keys to optimize it. The description of the paper are very clear, so the manuscript I recommend can be published.
Author Response
We appretiate and thanks the comments of the reviewer
Reviewer 3 Report
Please see the below attachment.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.docx
Author Response
1 Reviewer: -While the BCL method might be a well-known methodology in the DSSC community, other photovoltaic researchers such as perovskite or silicon solar cell researchers may not be familiar with it. Therefore, a brief introduction of the BCL method is recommended.
Answer: Such a brief introduction to the BCL method appears in the abstract and also at the final part of the introduction. Additionally, considering the reviewer suggestion, it was emphasized in the text that the review shows the route that led to the construction of the BCL model. Also, in each chapter, the generation and meaning of the three factors of the model was explained and shown. Finally, in chapter IV, the model is applied to different ruthenium complex, showing its capacity to reproduce the experimental behavior of DSSC.
Reviewer
As mentioned by the author in page 1, perovskite solar cell (PSC) was originated from DSSC, and has now been developed as one of the most popular topics. How about the authors also introducing a little bit of PSC in their introduction part to attract more interests?
Answer
The authors acknowledge to the reviewer for this suggestion and, according to it, the possible application of the model to PSC was mentioned in the abstract and introduction, as well as in the projections of the BCL method, mentioned in the conclusions of the paper.
Reviewer
Please also update the highest certified efficiency of PSC, which is 25.7% now.
Answer
The authors acknowledge the information. It was included in the text.
Reviewer
Just for curiosity, could this method be also employed into perovskite solar cells? Please make some comments in the conclusion part.
Answer
This possibility was commented in the abstract and also in the conclusion part.
Reviewer 4 Report
My first impression of the article entitled ” The BCL method for DSSC: Basis and Application” is that it is too long. It should be shortened, or it should be two separate works.
Characteristics of the obtained ligands:
- Are these methods sufficient to ensure that what is assumed is obtained?
- Line 115: How is it known that these and not other compounds appear in the decomposition process? There are many other methods for identifying substances (XRD, IR, NMR ...)
Would you please explain the abbreviations in the abstract? I did not find an explanation for the BCL abbreviation in the test.
References should be numbered according to the text, regardless of the chapter. It is difficult to refer to the cited data; such a division as in the book, in this case, makes verification difficult.
The work contains many editorial errors:
Delete the dash in the chapter numbering, lines: 76, 121, 153, 234, 240, …… and many more.
Table 2 - different fonts
Line 827 - correct the reaction record.
In conclusion, the work is too long, hard to read. I suggest shortening or dividing into two or more pieces.
Author Response
Reviewer
- Are these methods sufficient to ensure that what is assumed is obtained?
- Line 115: How is it known that these and not other compounds appear in the decomposition process? There are many other methods for identifying substances (XRD, IR, NMR ...)
Answer
Reviewer
Reviewer
Would you please explain the abbreviations in the abstract? I did not find an explanation for the BCL abbreviation in the text.
Answer
Abbreviations in the abstract, and in the text, were explained.
Reviewer
References should be numbered according to the text, regardless of the chapter. It is difficult to refer to the cited data; such a division as in the book, in this case, makes verification difficult.
Answer
The references were numbered as indicated by the reviewer.
Reviewer
The work contains many editorial errors:
Answer
A complete check for editorial errors was done, and the errors found were corrected
Reviewer
In conclusion, the work is too long, hard to read. I suggest shortening or dividing into two or more pieces.
The suggestion was taken in account shortening aspects, specially in Chapters XX and YY. In the revised version of the paper, the aim of the review was emphasized, specially in order to show the route that led to the construction of the BCL model. In each of the chapters the generation of the three factors of the model was shown. At chapter IV the model was applied in order to analyze its capacity to reproduce the behavior of DSSC for different ruthenium complexes. Considering this, dividing the text in two different papers would impede to have the total view of the method, from its construction to its application, losing the sense that was intended by writing this review.
Reviewer 5 Report
Major revision is recommended.
1、What’s BCL and TDDFT? It might not be a good idea to use abbreviations (BCL and DSSC) in the title.
2、In 115 of page 5, as a separate part, the synthesis and characterization of ligands should be briefly described. If not, I think it is good to just explain it when mentioned in the text, and there is no need to explain it independently.
3、The interfacial charge transfer in electrolyte could be measured by cyclic voltammograms for various mechanism studies and applied in other useful electronic devices. The following references should be cited. (Advanced Science, 2018, 5, 1700322; Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2020, 11, 2765).
4、In 249 of page 10, The author said that these bands could correspond to intraligand charge transfer, ILCT, transitions. They need to provide some reliable documentation support.
Author Response
Reviewer
What’s BCL and TDDFT? It might not be a good idea to use abbreviations (BCL and DSSC) in the title.
Answer
Abbreviations were explained in the abstract and also in the introduction. Not in the title because of length reasons.
Reviewer
In 115 of page 5, as a separate part, the synthesis and characterization of ligands should be briefly described. If not, I think it is good to just explain it when mentioned in the text, and there is no need to explain it independently.
Answer
The item synthesis and characterization of the ligands was changed to o more specific and broad redaction in the chapter one.
Reviewer
The interfacial charge transfer in electrolyte could be measured by cyclic voltammograms for various mechanism studies and applied in other useful electronic devices. The following references should be cited. (Advanced Science, 2018, 5, 1700322; Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2020, 11, 2765).
Answer
The references were cited in 20) and 21)
Reviewer
In 249 of page 10, The author said that these bands could correspond to intraligand charge transfer, ILCT, transitions. They need to provide some reliable documentation support.
Answer
The redaction was change in order to clarify the point
Reliable documentation support was added on reference 13)
Round 2
Reviewer 5 Report
Acceptance is recommended.
Author Response
REVIEWER 4
Reviewer
- Are these methods sufficient to ensure that what is assumed is obtained?
- Line 115: How is it known that these and not other compounds appear in the decomposition process? There are many other methods for identifying substances (XRD, IR, NMR ...)
Answer
The item synthesis and characterization of the ligands was changed to o more specific and broad redaction in the chapter one. As Indicated in the text and in the reference 2,the suggested methods for identifying substances (XRD, IR, NMR ...) were used. For two of the complex mass spectrometry also was used
