An Anode-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Half-Cell Fabricated by Hybrid 3D Inkjet Printing and Laser Treatment

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This is a nice article, however I think I think it can be improved in several aspects:

1) The introduction is too long, I think it should be shortened.

2) Sometimes the language should be more simple and direct.

3) It is critical to carry out a fuel cell test of the half-cell in order to prove its scientific soundness.

Author Response

1) The introduction is too long, I think it should be shortened.

The introduction has been shortened.

2) Sometimes the language should be more simple and direct.

The language has been improved.

3) It is critical to carry out a fuel cell test of the half-cell in order to prove its scientific soundness.

Indeed, it is very important to carry out a fuel cell test of the half-cell in order to prove its scientific soundness.  However, this is a big work, which, in our opinion, is beyond the scope of this study and will be carried out in the nearest future.

 

Reviewer 2 Report

I have reviewed an article entitled "Anode Supported SOFC NiO-10YSZ/10YSZ Half-Cell fabri-cated by Hybrid 3D Inkjet Printing and Laser Treatment” written by Inna Malbakhova et al.

In this work, the authors study the fabrication of supported anodes of NiO-10YSZ/10YSZ by 3D inkjet printing and laser treatment. The authors have optimized the working conditions of 3D inkjet printing as well as the subsequent pre-treatment of the samples by laser treatment. In the lines 243-245, the authors explain that the optimal conditions for the manufacture of the NiO/10YSZ anodes are with 36.7 J/cm² with the optimized porous structure with 29.9% of porosity. In accordance with the data shown with the SEM images in figure 4 and table 3. However, in lines 249-250 and in conclusions section they say that the optimum porosity and morphology are achieved with a laser exposure of 10.6 J/cm². This statement is contradictory to the results presented. Where does the value of 10.6 J/cm² come from? What are the optimal operating conditions?

In addition, in figure 10 the authors show the SEM and EDS cross-section images, but in figure 10c they show date with AFL and laser post-treatment at a laser exposure of 7.8 J/cm². Where do the authors get that laser exposure?

Author Response

1) In the lines 243-245, the authors explain that the optimal conditions for the manufacture of the NiO/10YSZ anodes are with 36.7 J/cm² with the optimized porous structure with 29.9% of porosity. In accordance with the data shown with the SEM images in figure 4 and table 3. However, in lines 249-250 and in conclusions section they say that the optimum porosity and morphology are achieved with a laser exposure of 10.6 J/cm². This statement is contradictory to the results presented. Where does the value of 10.6 J/cm² come from? What are the optimal operating conditions?

The optimal operating conditions are 36.7 J/cm². The relevant change has been made in the revised manuscript.

2) In addition, in figure 10 the authors show the SEM and EDS cross-section images, but in figure 10c they show date with AFL and laser post-treatment at a laser exposure of 7.8 J/cm². Where do the authors get that laser exposure?

This is an error and it has been corrected.

Reviewer 3 Report

This paper titled " Anode Supported SOFC NiO-10YSZ/10YSZ Half-Cell fabricated by Hybrid 3D Inkjet Printing and Laser Treatment" is quite interesting and the authors have done good efforts in this work, but this manuscript needs a minor revision for the following:- 

1- The given title is long somehow and it needs to be shortened 

2- The introduction part must include the merits and the potential of laser technology in the renewable energy sector as well

3- Figure 1 must include a real image of the test rig not only schematic representations

4- In figures 2 and 5 the author didn't mention how many cycles were done to get the particle size measurements, and if he has done a number of cycles does the figure refers to the average? 

5- In the conclusion section, the author must talk about the merits, potential, limitations, and challenges of this work and how it will affect the fuel cell devices' performance and cost. 

It needs a small editing of the some grammatical and typo errors 

Author Response

1) The given title is long somehow and it needs to be shortened 

The title has been shortened.

2) The introduction part must include the merits and the potential of laser technology in the renewable energy sector as well.

This has been done.

3) Figure 1 must include a real image of the test rig not only schematic representations.

Figure 1 has been revised.

4) In figures 2 and 5 the author didn't mention how many cycles were done to get the particle size measurements, and if he has done a number of cycles does the figure refers to the average? 

When measuring the particle size, five cycles were done; therefore, the values plotted in Figure 2a are the average values calculated from five measurements. This supplement has been added in the revised manuscript.

5) In the conclusion section, the author must talk about the merits, potential, limitations, and challenges of this work and how it will affect the fuel cell devices' performance and cost. 

This has been done.

6) It needs a small editing of the some grammatical and typo errors 

This has been done.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Accept

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors have properly addressed the reviewers' concerns. This manuscript could be published in current form.