Polymer-Gel-Derived PbS/C Composite Nanosheets and Their Photoelectronic Response Properties Studies in the NIR
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsIn this paper, the PbS/C composite nanosheets were synthesised with Pb2+ ion-crosslinked sodium alginate gel by one-pot carbonisation. The study aligns with the scope of this journal, and the results are both acceptable and interesting to readers. However, several issues require attention (minor revision).
1. The novelty of the work should be elaborated in more detail upon in the introduction section.
2. Elucidate in more detail what improvements and new finding compared to your previous publications [151].
3. Describe in more detail the mechanism obtained from the results of Figure 3 and 4.
4. Regarding Figure 5 of Raman spectra, the laser power, exposure time and the number of measurements per sample should be clarified in the text.
5. Meticulously review the manuscript to correct any typos and grammatical errors.
Author Response
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your comments. We have revised it according to your comments. The part of revision has been highlighted. It is shown in attachment.
Sincerely,
Xingfa Ma
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe basic question in this paper is the novelty - there are quite many rather general claims which are not really supported. A clear example is "toxicity of PbS is reduced" - why should that be the case? PbS is hardly soluble anyway, so why should a complexation with the alginate improve that? The abstract already is very vague (e.g. "... exhibited electrical switching responses to the applied strain to a certain extent."), and the description of the experimental setup is clearly inadequate (just daying 5B pencil drawings were used as electrodes sounds rather thin to me).
The structure must be cleared up, as presently chapters are mixed up and not clearly separated. Was the crosslinking verified in any way? What should the peak / scatter forest in the Raman of figure 5 mean? Where is the base for Scheme 3? Is it necessary to split the switching results into so many figures?
The summary and conclusions are vague again and clearly need improvement.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageThe language is somewhat strange, with the usual mix of missing / superfluous articles and missing commas. Introductory phrases are used excessively (example: "Otherwise, sodium alginate contains ..." - why "otherwise"?), and vague terminology dominates (even in the abstract). This must be improved.
Author Response
Dear Sir ,
Thank you for your comments. We have revised it according to your comments. The part of revision has been highlighted. It is shown in attachment.
Sincerely,
Xingfa Ma
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript discusses interesting findings about PbS based nanomaterials. The work needs corrections and clarifications at more places.
In Introduction write "n- or p-type" and do not use capitals.
In Table 1 thiolates and thiophenolates are not inorganic ligands.
In Figure 1 why did authors reveal two magnifications? They should write an explanation as it is missing from the main text.
In Figure 2, TEM images what were the dimensions? Write in the figure in readable form.
In Figure 5 write "Raman shift" instead of "wavenumber".
The Raman spectrum seems to be a noise so discussion of peaks is very doubtful only peaks appeared close to 3000 cm-1. Write -1 in superscripts in dimensions of Raman shifts.
Write in superscript 2 in "C sp2".
In Figure 10, 12 put only one curve in one figure so all of them will be separated and more clearly seen instead collecting all curves in one figure.
In experiments of fingerprint touch the currents increased during exposition while pressing with weights the currents decreased. It needs additional explanation and my question is whether is it possible by the fingerprint touch experiment that there is a high contribution of NIR irradiation of finger? My suspicion is what in Figure 15 can be seen is the sum of NIR contribution and pressing as latter triggers increased resistance.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageEnglish is basically good but authors should go through the entire text for checking. A serious mistake can be found in Page 16: "This method is also used in the synthesis of several other inorganic hydrid functional materials. Such as oxides, ..." These two sentence must be one sentence as the second one has no sense.
Author Response
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your comments. We have revised it according to your comments. The part of revision has been highlighted. It is shown in attachment.
Sincerely,
Xingfa Ma
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe paper is acceptable for publication in its revised form.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageRe-check by a native speaker would help.
Author Response
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your work and your comments on our paper. We have revised it according to the comment. A few part of revision have been highlighted. We checked the English for several times. Maybe we missed something because we're not native English.
Sincerely,
Xingfa Ma
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe quality of the entire work is significantly developed, but I suggest some modification in the magnifications (5000×, 10000×). Concerning the format use uniform line spacing and adhere to the journal's requirements.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageEnglish is also significantly improved.
Author Response
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your work and your comments on our paper. We have revised it according to the comment. A few part of revision have been highlighted. We checked the English for several times. Maybe we missed something because we're not native English.
Sincerely,
Xingfa Ma
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
