Use of Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) Nanoparticles as Reinforcement Agent of Polysaccharide-Based Materials

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

 Use of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles as 2 reinforcement agent of polysaccharide-based 3 materials

Luis M. Anaya-Esparza etal.

Authors nicely reviewed TiO2 nano particles and hybrid composites and above review publishable in processes after minor revision

1. Although present review focuss on TiO2 for photo catalysis and food packaging, antimicrobial, biomedical and separation technologies other important applications ex : Energy storage to be included in the introduction section after ref. 1 ( ex : Electrochimica Acta 55(2010)3109, J. Electrochem. Soc. 159(6) (2012)A762, Solid State Ionics 262(2014)120, RSC Advances, 2(2012)531, RSC Advances 5(37)(2015)29535 to be included in the introduction section
2. page 11: for solar cell studied in addition to refs Uddin et al. [60] developed .. few other reports on TiO2 nanoparticles solar cell application (RSC advances 2 (12) (2012), 5123)

3. Overall review was well written based on specific application although this material can be used in various application

Author Response

Reviewer 1:

Specific comments.

1. Although present review focus on TiO₂ for photocatalysis and food packaging, antimicrobial, biomedical and separation technologies, other important applications ex: Energy storage to be included in the introduction section after ref. 1 (ex : Electrochimica Acta 55(2010)3109, J. Electrochem. Soc. 159(6) (2012)A762, Solid State Ionics 262(2014)120, RSC Advances, 2(2012)531, RSC Advances 5(37)(2015)29535 to be included in the introduction section.

Other applications of TiO₂ were added in the introduction section according to the references suggested, which were included in the document.

Line 48: energy storage.

Lines 61 – 62: Moreover, TiO₂ is widely used for development of energy storage systems like lithium-ion batteries and dye-sensitized solar cells [2,14-16].

2. Page 11: for solar cell studied in addition to refs Uddin et al. [60] developed…few other reports on TiO₂ nanoparticles solar cell application (RSC advances 2 (12) (2012), 5123).

Reference was added into the document.

Lines 385 – 387: According to Peining et al. [17], the conductivity efficiency of the hybrid electrodes was improved because TiO₂ may act as a scattering center, reflecting the photons back into the electrode.

The article suggested by the author is about usage of TiO₂ on development of solar cells; however, the section you requested to be added is about the combined application of a polysaccharide with TiO₂ on development of solar cells. Therefore, I only used their article to explain why TiO₂ is used on such application.

3. Overall review was well written based on specific application although this material can be used in various applications.

Other applications of TiO₂ and polysaccharide-TiO₂ hybrid composite were added in the abstract and introduction sections.

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors have written a comprehensive review of TiO₂ polysaccharide composites.  This will be of use to the community; however, there are some issues which should be addressed.

There appears to be a general lack of organization within each type of composite. It would be helpful if for each different type of polysaccharide, the sections were subdivided according to application; e.g.  catalysis, packaging, etc.

I would also recommend that the authors try to include a few figures of the actual composites and perhaps schematics of their uses.  Pictures generally add to the readability as well as the overall interest. 

In its current form, this reviewer cannot recommend publication of the manuscript, but the work should be reconsidered after the appropriate changes have been made.

Author Response

Reviewer 2:

The authors have written a comprehensive review of TiO₂ polysaccharide composites. This will be of use to the community; however, there are some issues which should be addressed.

1. There appears to be a general lack of organization within each type of composite. It would be helpful if for each different type of polysaccharide, the sections were subdivided according to application; e.g. catalysis, packaging, etc.

All tables were improved and organized by applications. Also, the applications of each different type of polysaccharide functionalized with TiO₂ were subdivided.

2. I would also recommend that the authors try to include a few figures of the actual composites and perhaps schematics of their uses. Pictures generally add to the readability as well as the overall interest.

Some schematic representations were included into the document.

Figure 1. Mechanical stirring (a) and chemical deposition (b) methods for organic-inorganic hybrid materials preparation.

Figure 2. Schematic representation of the functionalization of polysaccharide-based materials with TiO2 (a) and their effects on the UV-blocking (b), mechanical (c), gas exchange (d), thermal (e), swelling (f), and adsorptive (g) properties (figure created in Biorender.com).

Fig. 3. Schematic representation of the functionalization of polysaccharide-based with TiO2 (a) and their main applications: food and non-food packaging (b), antimicrobial activity (c), sensor development (d), wastewater treatment (e), solar cells (f), wound-healing (g), and controlled drug release (h) (figure created in Biorender.com).

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors have addressed most of the issues and the paper reads significantly better.