Properties of Sustainable Earth Construction Materials: A State-of-the-Art Review

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In the manuscript titled: "Properties of Sustainable Earth Construction Materials: A State-of-the-art Review," the authors present an review of developments related to the expansion of earthen materials. The manuscript includes historical and regional references on earthen materials. However, several points need clarification and improvement to increase the quality of the manuscript:

- All the figures in the manuscript need improvement. Most of the drawings are of poor quality and differ in font and layout. It is necessary to ensure that their visual form is unified and to improve readability.

- The manuscript has been incorrectly classified as an 'Article' and is actually a 'Review', this needs to be changed.

- The manuscript lacks an indication of potential directions that could affect the development of earthen materials.

- Most of the references in the manuscript refer to China what is the reason for this? 

Making the above changes I feel will positively affect the quality of the manuscript.

Author Response

Response to reviewer comments:

Reviewer: 1

1.All the figures in the manuscript need improvement. Most of the drawings are of poor quality and differ in font and layout. It is necessary to ensure that their visual form is unified and to improve readability.

Author response: Thanks for this comment. In the revised manuscript, all figures have been adjusted, the quality of the drawings has been improved, and the font and layout have been unified.

2.The manuscript has been incorrectly classified as an 'Article' and is actually a 'Review', this needs to be changed.

Author response: Thanks for this comment. The classification has been corrected from "Article" to "Review".

3.The manuscript lacks an indication of potential directions that could affect the development of earthen materials.

Author response: Thanks for this comment. In the revised manuscript, an additional section has been included, outlining the potential development directions for earthen materials.

Adding description: “..... 6.New Perspectives. Earthen materials, as a natural and environmentally friendly construction resource, play a crucial role in the sustainable building industry. To explore potential future directions, it's essential to comprehensively consider advancements in their thermal properties, ecological characteristics, structural mechanics, and reuse technologies to achieve broader applications and comprehensive sustainability. Firstly, leveraging the advantages of earthen materials in thermal performance, establishing a lifecycle-based carbon emissions calculation model and decarbonization methods are paramount. This model should comprehensively assess the carbon emissions throughout the lifecycle of earthen materials—from harvesting, production, use, to disposal—and propose targeted emission reduction strategies. Integrating circular economy principles by reducing raw material consumption, optimizing production processes, and enhancing material reuse rates can significantly minimize the carbon footprint of earthen materials across their lifecycle. Secondly, while maximizing the retention of the green ecological properties of earthen materials, there's a need to enhance their structural mechanics through material modifications. This endeavor aims to strike a balance by preserving their natural attributes while bolstering their performance in diverse engineering environments. Utilizing modern technological means for nano-level material modifications can elevate the durability, compressive strength, and weather resistance of earthen materials, thereby expanding their application scope. Simultaneously, integrating earthen material modification techniques with the reuse of construction waste holds promise in expanding their technological applications, driving research into green recycled materials. By effectively integrating and utilizing discarded construction materials, novel high-performance green recycled materials can be created, promoting not only resource recycling but also propelling the construction industry towards more eco-friendly and sustainable practices. However, to realize the aforementioned potential directions, one of the current challenges—lack of standardized testing and evaluation for earthen materials—needs addressing. Future research should prioritize addressing this issue, establishing comprehensive and scientific testing standards and evaluation systems for earthen materials, thus fostering their broader applications. In summary, the future development directions for earthen materials encompass advancements from carbon emission calculations to enhancing structural mechanics and innovative application of reuse technologies. This comprehensive development trajectory will bring forth greater possibilities in the field of green construction, propelling the construction industry towards a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future...”

4.Most of the references in the manuscript refer to China what is the reason for this? 

Author response: Thanks for this comment. Most of the references mentioning China are due to the extensive historical application and widespread use of earthen building materials across various regions in China. The environmental and soil differences among different regions in China have fostered diversity in earthen building materials, encompassing various types and application methods, making them representative. The research outcomes from China serve as valuable references for other countries. Apart from citing Chinese literature, it also includes references and discussions of relevant literature and results from other countries, and some new references from other countries are added.

Following the reviewers' recommendations, additional references from regions outside of China have been included. Partially, as shown below:

31. Benmansour, N.; Agoudjil, B.; Gherabli, A.; Kareche, A.; Boudenne, A. Thermal and mechanical performance of natural mortar reinforced with date palm fibers for use as insulating materials in building. Energy & Buildings 2014, 81.
32. Binici, H.; Aksogan, O.; Shah, T. Investigation of fibre reinforced mud brick as a building material. Construction & Building Materials 2005, 19, 313-318.
33. Bahar, R.; Benazzoug, M.; Kenai, S. Performance of compacted cement-stabilised soil. Cement and concrete composites 2004, 26, 811-820.
34. Bell, F.G. Lime stabilization of clay minerals and soils. Engineering Geology 1996, 42.
35. Alhaik, G.; Dubois, V.; Wirquin, E.; Leblanc, A.; Aouad, G. Evaluate the influence of starch on earth/hemp or flax straws mixtures properties in presence of superplasticizer. Construction and Building Materials 2018, 186, 762-772, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.07.209.
36. Tourtelot, J.; d'Espinose de Lacaillerie, J.-B.; Duc, M.; Mertz, J.-D.; Bourgès, A.; Keita, E. Strengthening mechanisms of clay building materials by starch. Construction and Building Materials 2023, 405, 133215, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.133215.

Dear reviewer,

thank you for giving us the opportunity to clarify and revise the issues in this manuscript. Your valuable comments can improve this manuscript. If there are any problems in the revised manuscript, we will try our best to solve them and address them in future communication.

Best and wishes for you !

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

This paper reviewed the developmental trajectory of earth construction, while conducting an in-depth analysis of the performance characteristics of earthen materials. Furthermore, this review summarizes the impact of various modification methods on the mechanical and durability properties of three types of earthen materials, along with an exploration thermal and moisture performance of these materials. The paper is interesting, however, there are points where the paper should be improved.

1. Abstract should include the conclusion, and it should be added.

2. The figures should be specification, please revise again.

3. The conclusions are too complicated and need to be brief and clear.

4. Outlook can be described as a separate section for analysis.

Moderate editing of English language required

Author Response

Response to reviewer comments:

Reviewer: 2

1. Abstract should include the conclusion, and it should be added.

Author response: Thanks for this comment. Based on this comment, the abstract has been revised and conclusions have been added to the revised version.

Adding description:“...Finally, conclusions were drawn, suggesting a comprehensive utilization of their thermal and moisture regulation properties, emphasizing the enhancement of their mechanical and durability performance. Additionally, attention was urged towards the economic and ecological aspects during the construction and maintenance phases of earthen construction. These recommendations aim to facilitate the sustainable development and widespread application of earthen materials in the future...”

2. The figures should be specification, please revise again.

Author response: Dear reviewer, thank you for your valuable comments and suggestions. In therevised manuscript, the figures have been adjusted.

3. The conclusions are too complicated and need to be brief and clear.

Author response: Thanks for this comment.In the revised manuscript, the unnecessary description in the conclusion has been deleted and simplified.

Adding description:“... 7. Conclusion. The rapid development of urbanization and modernization presents a significant challenge for earthen construction today. As environmental consciousness deepens, there's a growing interest among people in buildings that possess ecological value, consequently garnering increased recognition for earthen construction's advantages. This article, by consolidating the current research status of earthen materials domestically and internationally, highlights:(1)Enhancement of engineering mechanical performance while preserving the thermal and moisture characteristics of earthen materials. Future modifications should target comprehensive performance improvements, not only elevating the mechanical and durability aspects but also holistically considering the effects of modifications, emphasizing the overall enhancement of building performance metrics like resistance to dry-wet cycles, thermal insulation, and heat retention. This contributes to heightened energy efficiency and indoor comfort in constructions.(2)Application in non-load-bearing structural components of buildings. Deploying earthen materials in load-bearing wall materials often falls short of meeting contemporary architectural demands. Conversely, employing earthen materials in non-load-bearing walls, insulation, and heat retention materials areas allows for a more effective utilization of their inherent features such as insulation, moisture regulation, and thermal properties.(3)Emphasis on research and construction combining local resources in practical application engineering. Currently, most studies are either in the stage of theoretical exploration or improvement research. To effectively apply earthen materials, targeted research is imperative, focusing on local soil resource characteristics, modification methods, performance, durability of earthen wall materials, as well as environmental and economic indicators.(4)Varied significance of the economic aspect of earthen materials in different scenarios. When selecting earthen materials, a comprehensive consideration of diverse factors is necessary, balancing economic viability with other elements pertinent to specific application contexts. This facilitates the optimal utilization of earthen material advantages and propels their extensive application across different domains...”

4. Outlook can be described as a separate section for analysis.

Author response: Thanks for this comment. In the revised manuscript, an additional section has been included, outlining the potential development directions for earthen materials.

Adding description:“..... 6.New Perspectives. Earthen materials, as a natural and environmentally friendly construction resource, play a crucial role in the sustainable building industry. To explore potential future directions, it's essential to comprehensively consider advancements in their thermal properties, ecological characteristics, structural mechanics, and reuse technologies to achieve broader applications and comprehensive sustainability. Firstly, leveraging the advantages of earthen materials in thermal performance, establishing a lifecycle-based carbon emissions calculation model and decarbonization methods are paramount. This model should comprehensively assess the carbon emissions throughout the lifecycle of earthen materials—from harvesting, production, use, to disposal—and propose targeted emission reduction strategies. Integrating circular economy principles by reducing raw material consumption, optimizing production processes, and enhancing material reuse rates can significantly minimize the carbon footprint of earthen materials across their lifecycle. Secondly, while maximizing the retention of the green ecological properties of earthen materials, there's a need to enhance their structural mechanics through material modifications. This endeavor aims to strike a balance by preserving their natural attributes while bolstering their performance in diverse engineering environments. Utilizing modern technological means for nano-level material modifications can elevate the durability, compressive strength, and weather resistance of earthen materials, thereby expanding their application scope. Simultaneously, integrating earthen material modification techniques with the reuse of construction waste holds promise in expanding their technological applications, driving research into green recycled materials. By effectively integrating and utilizing discarded construction materials, novel high-performance green recycled materials can be created, promoting not only resource recycling but also propelling the construction industry towards more eco-friendly and sustainable practices. However, to realize the aforementioned potential directions, one of the current challenges—lack of standardized testing and evaluation for earthen materials—needs addressing. Future research should prioritize addressing this issue, establishing comprehensive and scientific testing standards and evaluation systems for earthen materials, thus fostering their broader applications. In summary, the future development directions for earthen materials encompass advancements from carbon emission calculations to enhancing structural mechanics and innovative application of reuse technologies. This comprehensive development trajectory will bring forth greater possibilities in the field of green construction, propelling the construction industry towards a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future...”

5.Moderate editing of English language required

Author response: Thanks for this comment. The revised manuscript has undergone moderate language editing in accordance with the suggestions provided.

Dear reviewer,

thank you for giving us the opportunity to clarify and revise the issues in this manuscript. Your valuable comments can improve this manuscript. If there are any problems in the revised manuscript, we will try our best to solve them and address them in future communication.

Best and wishes for you !

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

This paper compiles the article of 181 references and takes very many articles into account. Therefore, it is considered that the completeness of this article to be very high. Then, it is considered that the content of this paper is very useful information for the area of this research field in the future.

However the definition of “Earthen materials“ is incomprehensive for reviewer. For example, reviewer does not understand the difference between soil and aggregate in “Earthen materials“ well. Particularly, the raw materials of the aggregate used in concrete are soil.

Reviewer cannot understand meanings of the main keyword “Earth Construction Materials”well. In this paper, authors describe the concrete materials is one of “Earth Construction Materials”. Reviewer think that the concrete materials does not belong to “Earth Construction Materials”.

It is uncertain whether you make a range to the “Earth Construction Materials”. Please describe the definition of “Earthen materials to become clear in order to understand the content of this paper for readers.

Author Response

Response to reviewer comments:

Reviewer: 3

However the definition of “Earthen materials“ is incomprehensive for reviewer. For example, reviewer does not understand the difference between soil and aggregate in “Earthen materials“ well. Particularly, the raw materials of the aggregate used in concrete are soil.
Reviewer cannot understand meanings of the main keyword “Earth Construction Materials”well. In this paper, authors describe the concrete materials is one of “Earth Construction Materials”. Reviewer think that the concrete materials does not belong to “Earth Construction Materials”.

It is uncertain whether you make a range to the “Earth Construction Materials”. Please describe the definition of “Earthen materials to become clear in order to understand the content of this paper for readers.

Author response: Thanks for this comment.We fully agree that concrete materials do not fall under the category of "Earth Construction Materials". Regarding your concern about the definition of "Earth Construction Materials", we have made changes in the revised manuscript to clarify the definition and emphasize the difference between concrete materials and Earth Construction Materials .

Adding description:“...1. Introduction.However, traditional earthen materials, the primary component in earth construction, mainly comprise untreated natural soil, also known as raw soil materials. They are typically used in constructing walls, floors, and other architectural components. Furthermore, in road construction and dam engineering, earthen materials are extensively utilized as roadbed and embankment materials. They provide support and filling in roadbeds and embankments, enhancing engineering stability and increasing load-bearing capacity[17-19]. In contrast, conventional building materials, such as concrete, usually consist of cement, aggregate, and sand, with the aggregate typically sourced from quarries, presenting significant differences from earthen materials. ....”

Dear reviewer,

thank you for giving us the opportunity to clarify and revise the issues in this manuscript. Your valuable comments can improve this manuscript. If there are any problems in the revised manuscript, we will try our best to solve them and address them in future communication.

Best and wishes for you !

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

Review

to the review article "Utilization of Blast Furnace Slag as an Enhancer in Masonry Mortars Made with Thermally Treated Waste Concrete Powder"

 Currently, for the sustainable development of the world economy, it is of interest to develop innovative technologies for the production of building materials and products based on cement-free binders based on the local resource base, including the use of soils of different mineralogical origin. For example, the use of clay-containing rocks as the main component in ground concrete is an important problem that is obviously of great economic, environmental and scientific importance. In addition, the use of soil-based building materials in construction helps to reduce the carbon footprint.

The manuscript of the review article "Properties of Sustainable Earth Construction Materials: A State-of-the-art Review", prepared by the authors Youchao Zhang, Shuangli Jiang, Dengzhou Quan, Kun Fang, Bo Wang, Zhiming Ma is devoted to the study of the experience of using soil-based building materials. The authors conducted in-depth research work on the stated topic, systematized and summarized the material.

There are the following comments on the manuscript:

1. The type of manuscript is not "Article" instead of "Review"

2. It is recommended to remove "Review" in keywords, add terms reflecting the essence of the article "retrospective", "mechanical characteristics", "durability".

3. In the "Introduction" section, it is necessary to expand the scope of application of earthworks, namely linear transport facilities (roads), as well as environmental protection structures (dams).

4. In the section "Development History of Earth Construction" it is recommended to describe some new innovative technologies when using earth materials. 

5. Since the authors place significant emphasis on civil buildings, it is recommended in the section "Performance Characteristics of Earth Construction Materials" to specify the maximum height of residential buildings made of earthen materials.

6. In the section "Research Status of Modification of Earthen Materials", the authors focus on the traditional use of clinker cement to strengthen soils. It is recommended to specify, taking into account the requirements, the possibility of using clicker-free alkaline-alkaline earth hydraulic binders, such as those based on man-made industrial waste (waste from mineral wool production), including low-base compounds, i.e. not only blast furnace slags, to strengthen soils. Such waste, for example, waste from mineral wool production activated with a solution of caustic soda with the addition of sodium silicate.

7. In paragraph "4.2.1. Effect of Physical Modification on the Strength", the author pays attention to the dispersed reinforcement of the structure of earthen materials. 

8. In conclusion, indicate the promising directions for the development of earthen materials in construction

Sincerely, your reviewer.

Author Response

Reviewer: 4

1.The type of manuscript is not "Article" instead of "Review"

Author response: Thanks for this comment. The classification has been corrected from "Article" to "Review".

2.It is recommended to remove "Review" in keywords, add terms reflecting the essence of the article "retrospective", "mechanical characteristics", "durability".

Author response: Thanks for this comment. "Review" has been removed from the keywords and "mechanical characteristics" has been added to the keywords.

3.In the "Introduction" section, it is necessary to expand the scope of application of earthworks, namely linear transport facilities (roads), as well as environmental protection structures (dams).

Author response: Thanks for this comment.The scope of application of earthworks has been added in the "Introduction" section.

Adding description:“...Furthermore, in road construction and dam engineering, earthen materials are extensively utilized as roadbed and embankment materials. They provide support and filling in roadbeds and embankments, enhancing engineering stability and increasing load-bearing capacity...”

4.In the section "Development History of Earth Construction" it is recommended to describe some new innovative technologies when using earth materials. 

Author response: Thanks for this comment. In the revised manuscript, we have incorporated relevant content in the section on “Development History of Earth Construction”，discussing innovative techniques employed in the use of earthen materials.

Adding description:“.....In the developmental history of earth construction, various commonly used techniques for earthen materials have emerged. These techniques include fiber reinforcement, which involves adding local animal or plant fibers to enhance the material's crack resistance[31,32]. Additionally, there is the preparation of earthen-based composite materials, involving the addition of substances like lime, cement, and gypsum to enhance the material's characteristics[33,34]. Another technique involves the use of binders such as natural resins and starch to strengthen soil structures[35,36]. These techniques have played pivotal roles in different historical periods and regions, continually evolving with technological advancements to meet diverse environmental and architectural requirements...”

5. Since the authors place significant emphasis on civil buildings, it is recommended in the section "Performance Characteristics of Earth Construction Materials" to specify the maximum height of residential buildings made of earthen materials.

Author response: Thanks for this comment. In the revised manuscript, the section on "Performance Characteristics of Earth Construction Materials" has added the maximum height specifications for residential buildings constructed with earthen materials.

Adding description:“...3.3. Mechanics and Durability Performance. The mechanical and durability shortcomings of earthen materials have been a persistent limitation in their development and application. Hence, residential earth constructions for civilian use typically do not exceed 6 meters in height...”

6. In the section "Research Status of Modification of Earthen Materials", the authors focus on the traditional use of clinker cement to strengthen soils. It is recommended to specify, taking into account the requirements, the possibility of using clicker-free alkaline-alkaline earth hydraulic binders, such as those based on man-made industrial waste (waste from mineral wool production), including low-base compounds, i.e. not only blast furnace slags, to strengthen soils. Such waste, for example, waste from mineral wool production activated with a solution of caustic soda with the addition of sodium silicate.

Author response: Thanks for this comment. An introduction to modified earthen materials using industrial by-product alkali activation has been added to Section 4.1.1.

Adding description:“...Additionally, scholars have explored utilizing industrial by-products as aluminosili cate materials and employing alkali activators to enhance the mechanical properties of earthen materials. Du et al. [119] observed that, under the same binder content, the unconfined compressive strength of earth modified by alkali-activated slag increased by over 2 to 3.5 times compared to cement-modified earth samples. Singhi et al. [120] documented that under similar binding conditions, the 28-day strength of earth modified with alkali-activated slag surpassed that of cement-modified earth by over 600%. These findings demonstrate that employing industrial by-products along with alkali activation techniques can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of earthen materials, offering potential avenues for the development of sustainable construction materials....”

7. In paragraph "4.2.1. Effect of Physical Modification on the Strength", the author pays attention to the dispersed reinforcement of the structure of earthen materials. 

Author response: Thanks for this comment. In the revised manuscript, we have changed the title of section 4.2.1 to “Effect of component optimization on Strength”. This alteration more accurately describes our focus, which involves adjusting the composition and structure of earthen materials to better achieve their structural dispersion reinforcement.

8. In conclusion, indicate the promising directions for the development of earthen materials in construction.

Author response: Thanks for this comment. In the revised manuscript, an additional section has been included, outlining the potential development directions for earthen materials.

Adding description:“..... 6.New Perspectives. Earthen materials, as a natural and environmentally friendly construction resource, play a crucial role in the sustainable building industry. To explore potential future directions, it's essential to comprehensively consider advancements in their thermal properties, ecological characteristics, structural mechanics, and reuse technologies to achieve broader applications and comprehensive sustainability. Firstly, leveraging the advantages of earthen materials in thermal performance, establishing a lifecycle-based carbon emissions calculation model and decarbonization methods are paramount. This model should comprehensively assess the carbon emissions throughout the lifecycle of earthen materials—from harvesting, production, use, to disposal—and propose targeted emission reduction strategies. Integrating circular economy principles by reducing raw material consumption, optimizing production processes, and enhancing material reuse rates can significantly minimize the carbon footprint of earthen materials across their lifecycle.Secondly, while maximizing the retention of the green ecological properties of earthen materials, there's a need to enhance their structural mechanics through material modifications. This endeavor aims to strike a balance by preserving their natural attributes while bolstering their performance in diverse engineering environments. Utilizing modern technological means for nano-level material modifications can elevate the durability, compressive strength, and weather resistance of earthen materials, thereby expanding their application scope.Simultaneously, integrating earthen material modification techniques with the reuse of construction waste holds promise in expanding their technological applications, driving research into green recycled materials. By effectively integrating and utilizing discarded construction materials, novel high-performance green recycled materials can be created, promoting not only resource recycling but also propelling the construction industry towards more eco-friendly and sustainable practices.However, to realize the aforementioned potential directions, one of the current challenges—lack of standardized testing and evaluation for earthen materials—needs addressing. Future research should prioritize addressing this issue, establishing comprehensive and scientific testing standards and evaluation systems for earthen materials, thus fostering their broader applications. In summary, the future development directions for earthen materials encompass advancements from carbon emission calculations to enhancing structural mechanics and innovative application of reuse technologies. This comprehensive development trajectory will bring forth greater possibilities in the field of green construction, propelling the construction industry towards a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future...”

Dear reviewer,

thank you for giving us the opportunity to clarify and revise the issues in this manuscript. Your valuable comments can improve this manuscript. If there are any problems in the revised manuscript, we will try our best to solve them and address them in future communication.

Best and wishes for you !

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 5 Report

Review Report

Manuscript ID: sustainability-2752041

The researchers work aim to presents a comprehensive overview of earth construction materials, tracing their historical development and examining their performance characteristics. It further explores current research on enhancing these materials' mechanical and durability properties, including thermal and moisture performance.

We believe that the manuscript research is very interesting and that it is in the interest of the journal's readers to accept it after minor changes.

However, the manuscript exhibits deficiencies in its written English and requires appropriate review by the authors. I mentioned some areas where the sentence formation could be improved. Specifically, I found some sentences to be difficult to understand or poorly constructed. Thus, I would recommend that the authors conduct a thorough revision before resubmitting to ensure the manuscript meets the necessary standards. Furthermore, I have some comments and suggestions for the authors to consider.

1-     (Line 39): Original: "Statistics show that more than 1 billion people still inhabit earth construction around the world..."

Suggested: "Statistics show that more than 1 billion people still inhabit structures made from earth construction around the world..."

2-    (Line 56-57): Original: "Through in-depth exploration of various modified 56 materials, they have achieved a series of noteworthy research outcomes in this field."

Suggested: "Through in-depth exploration of various modified materials, researchers have achieved a series of noteworthy outcomes in this field."

3-    Fig. 12 : please improve the quality of the figure

Congratulation on your work and good luck.

We believe that the manuscript research is very interesting and that it is in the interest of the journal's readers to accept it after minor changes.

However, the manuscript exhibits deficiencies in its written English and requires appropriate review by the authors. I mentioned some areas where the sentence formation could be improved. Specifically, I found some sentences to be difficult to understand or poorly constructed. Thus, I would recommend that the authors conduct a thorough revision before resubmitting to ensure the manuscript meets the necessary standards. Furthermore, I have some comments and suggestions for the authors to consider.

1-     (Line 39): Original: "Statistics show that more than 1 billion people still inhabit earth construction around the world..."

Suggested: "Statistics show that more than 1 billion people still inhabit structures made from earth construction around the world..."

2-    (Line 56-57): Original: "Through in-depth exploration of various modified 56 materials, they have achieved a series of noteworthy research outcomes in this field."

Suggested: "Through in-depth exploration of various modified materials, researchers have achieved a series of noteworthy outcomes in this field."

Author Response

Reviewer: 5

1.(Line 39): Original: "Statistics show that more than 1 billion people still inhabit earth construction around the world..."

Author response: Thanks for this comment. Based on this comment, the revised manuscript has been modified accordingly.

2.(Line 56-57): Original: "Through in-depth exploration of various modified 56 materials, they have achieved a series of noteworthy research outcomes in this field."

Author response: Thanks for this comment. In the revised draft, changes have been made according to your comments.

3.Fig. 12 : please improve the quality of the figure

Author response: Thanks for this comment. In the revised draft, adjustments have been made to the above image, enhancing the clarity of the charts, rearranging the layout, and standardizing the font formats.

Dear reviewer,

thank you for giving us the opportunity to clarify and revise the issues in this manuscript. Your valuable comments can improve this manuscript. If there are any problems in the revised manuscript, we will try our best to solve them and address them in future communication.

Best and wishes for you !

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

All questions have been answered.

Minor editing of English language required

Author Response

1. Comments and Suggestions for Authors: All questions have been answered.

Auther’s response: Dear reviewer, thanks for this kindly comment on this revised manuscript.

2. Comments on the Quality of English Language: Minor editing of English language required.

Auther’s response: Agree with this comment. All the authors have checked and corrected the language and grammar issues, and the language in the revised manuscript has been further edited and polished by a native speaker. The revised words and sentences were highlighted with a blue color in the revised manuscript. All the authors hope that the revised manuscript has a good expression and is more readable.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 4 Report

The authors made appropriate recommendations for the review

Author Response

1. Comments and Suggestions for Authors: The authors made appropriate recommendations for the review.

Auther’s response: Dear reviewer, thanks for your valuable and kindly comments on this manuscript, and the quality of the revised manuscript is better than the previous one. If there are any other issues in the revised manuscript, all the authors will try their best to solve them according to the further connection.

Best regards and wishes for you !

Yours, Dr. Zhiming Ma in Yangzhou University.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx