Covalently Bonded Ir(IV) on Conducted Blue TiO2 for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Acid Media
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This paper by Lee et al presets introduction of Ir(V) component to TiO2 and its catalytic oxygen evolution. The new results are obtained in this work. Experimental work was carefully done. I recommend publication of this manuscript in Catalysts. The following minor issues are addressed in revision of the paper.
1) Category, Discussion, should be reworded as Results and Discussion because many results are presented here.
2) page 3, line 8 from bottom: 34.8”theta" should be corrected.
3) page3, last line: "are" should be corrected as "is".
Author Response
Response to Reviewer #1 comments:
This paper by Lee et al presets introduction of Ir(IV) component to TiO2 and its catalytic oxygen evolution. The new results are obtained in this work. Experimental work was carefully done. I recommend publication of this manuscript in Catalysts. The following minor issues are addressed in revision of the paper.
Answer) Thank you for your valuable comments. We have considered your concerns and incorporated them into the revised manuscript to improve the quality of our research outputs. We hope that this revised version has fully addressed your concerns.
1. Category, Discussion, should be reworded as Results and Discussion because many results are presented here.
Answer) Thank you for your comment. We agree that many results are presented in "Discussion.” Based on your suggestion, the category “Discussion” has been reworded into “Results and Discussion” in the revised version as follows:
Line 110 (highlight version): “3. Results and Discussion”
2. Page 3, line 8 from bottom: 34.8 ”theta” should be corrected.
Answer) We apologize for this unclear description. We modified the revised version as follows:
Line 114-115 (highlight version): “the formation of IrO2 (101) on blue TiO2 was verified by powder X-ray diffraction studies, which determines the peak position of 2θ at 34.8° ”
3. Page 3, last line: "are" should be corrected as "is."
Answer) Thank you for pointing this out. We revised "are" to “is” in the revised version as follows:
Line 121-122: “The Ir element detected on blue TiO2 components is contacted on BI-15 NPs, and no significant impurities were detected.”
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
This article focused on the electrocatalytic performance improvement of IrO2-blue TiO2. However, even the electrocatalytic performance of TiO2 was improved after decorated by IrO2, TiO2 is not appropriate for electrocatalysis. Rejection is recommended.
- It should be explained why the catalytic performance of BI-20 was worse than BI-15 .
- This article proposed and emphasized the existence of the covalently Ir(IV) bond on conducted blue TiO2. Corresponding experimental data should be provided. And how this special structure affected the catalytic process should be explained.
- The stability test should be added to show the tolerance of the catalyst under acidic conditions.
Author Response
Thank you for your valuable comments. We have considered all your major and minor comments for improving our research. Based on your feedback, our manuscript has been significantly improved, and we hope that this revised version has fully addressed your concerns. In particular, point-by-point answers for each concern raised in this manuscript have been provided the attached file below. Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Acceptance is recommended.
