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Review
Peer-Review Record

Review on Synthesis and Catalytic Properties of Cobalt Manganese Oxide Spinels (CoxMn3−xO4, 0 < x < 3)

Catalysts 2025, 15(1), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15010082
by Kende Attila Béres 1,2, Zoltán Homonnay 1,2 and László Kótai 1,*
Reviewer 1:
Reviewer 2: Anonymous
Reviewer 3: Anonymous
Catalysts 2025, 15(1), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15010082
Submission received: 31 December 2024 / Revised: 11 January 2025 / Accepted: 14 January 2025 / Published: 16 January 2025

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In this review, Kótai and colleges did a great deal of work, culminating in the submission of a 39-page manuscript. The manuscript is well organized and, as far as I can judge, exhaustively reviewed. The figures are of excellent quality, with only a few errors. The preparation and annealing methods of cobalt-manganese oxides as well as the catalytic properties are in general well discussed. Overall, this dedicated work will be extremely useful to the community, and I strongly recommend that the manuscript be published in catalysts. However, there are some issues that need to be addressed prior to publication:

(1) Page 1, at line 15, “volatile organic substances” should be corrected as “volatile organic substances (VOCs)”. Abbreviations are used in the text they should be defined in the text at first use.

(2) In the “conclusion and outlook” section, what are the future research directions for cobalt-manganese oxide spinels? How to improve the catalytic reaction efficiency of cobalt-manganese oxide spinels based on the mechanism?

(3) Can this review help us choose which type of cobalt-manganese oxide spinel to use for different reactions or applications? For example, which cobalt-manganese oxide spinel is suitable for oxygen evolution and reduction reactions? Which one is suitable for the removal of volatile organic compounds?

Author Response

In this review, Kótai and colleges did a great deal of work, culminating in the submission of a 39-page manuscript. The manuscript is well organized and, as far as I can judge, exhaustively reviewed. The figures are of excellent quality, with only a few errors. The preparation and annealing methods of cobalt-manganese oxides as well as the catalytic properties are in general well discussed. Overall, this dedicated work will be extremely useful to the community, and I strongly recommend that the manuscript be published in catalysts. However, there are some issues that need to be addressed prior to publication:

(1) Page 1, at line 15, “volatile organic substances” should be corrected as “volatile organic substances (VOCs)”. Abbreviations are used in the text they should be defined in the text at first use.

Thank you very much for the Reviewer’s comments, we modified the text accordingly.

(2) In the “conclusion and outlook” section, what are the future research directions for cobalt-manganese oxide spinels? How to improve the catalytic reaction efficiency of cobalt-manganese oxide spinels based on the mechanism?

The explanation has been inserted into the text.

(3) Can this review help us choose which type of cobalt-manganese oxide spinel to use for different reactions or applications? For example, which cobalt-manganese oxide spinel is suitable for oxygen evolution and reduction reactions? Which one is suitable for the removal of volatile organic compounds?

Yes of course, examples have been inserted into the text.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript addresses the synthesis and catalytic properties of cobalt-manganese oxide spinels. The work is well-structured and focuses on an intriguing and contemporary research area. It provides a comprehensive summary of various redox-based reactions occurring in the presence of Cox Mn3–x O4 (0 < x < 3) catalysts.

The literature review is thorough, with relevant and up-to-date research studies incorporated.

However, English language editing would be beneficial prior to publication.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

English language editing would be beneficial prior to publication.

Author Response

The manuscript addresses the synthesis and catalytic properties of cobalt-manganese oxide spinels. The work is well-structured and focuses on an intriguing and contemporary research area. It provides a comprehensive summary of various redox-based reactions occurring in the presence of Cox Mn3–x O4 (0 < x < 3) catalysts.

The literature review is thorough, with relevant and up-to-date research studies incorporated.

However, English language editing would be beneficial prior to publication.

The English of the text has been checked and revised.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In this review, the authors reviewed the synthesis and catalytic properties of CoxMn3-xO4 spinel oxides. They summarized effects of chemical and phase composition of the catalysts for these redox-based reactions. However, some important issues must be carefully solved before acceptance.

1.     The descriptions on the structures and electronic structures for CoxMn3-xO4 spinel oxides are lacking. At least, a schematic plot for the structure of CoxMn3-xO4 spinel oxides should be provided. In terms of electronic structures, the orbital properties should be discussed. Moreover, the detailed characterizations to extract the detailed structural and electronic structural properties should be mentioned, which are important. For example, the band gap can be obtained by UV-vis results, which can refer to the paper with DOI of 10.1038/s41467-020-19433-1.

2.     More plots should be provided to explain the different synthesis and morphologies of CoxMn3-xO4 spinel oxides.

3.     Hydrogen is an important chemical, where CoxMn3-xO4 spinel oxides are always used. The authors should emphasize the importance and roles of green hydrogen in the suitable part. Please refer to the paper with DOI of 10.1016/j.cej.2023.141674.

4.     The authors should add some necessary perspectives about the development of activity descriptors and application devices by using CoxMn3-xO4 spinel oxides in the suitable place.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The English could be improved to more clearly express the research.

Author Response

In this review, the authors reviewed the synthesis and catalytic properties of CoxMn3-xO4 spinel oxides. They summarized effects of chemical and phase composition of the catalysts for these redox-based reactions. However, some important issues must be carefully solved before acceptance.

  1. The descriptions on the structures and electronic structures for CoxMn3-xO4 spinel oxides are lacking. At least, a schematic plot for the structure of CoxMn3-xO4 spinel oxides should be provided. In terms of electronic structures, the orbital properties should be discussed. Moreover, the detailed characterizations to extract the detailed structural and electronic structural properties should be mentioned, which are important. For example, the band gap can be obtained by UV-vis results, which can refer to the paper with DOI of 10.1038/s41467-020-19433-1.

The description has been inserted and the text has been modified accordingly.

  1. More plots should be provided to explain the different synthesis and morphologies of CoxMn3-xO4 spinel oxides.

An explaining scheme has been inserted.

  1. Hydrogen is an important chemical, where CoxMn3-xO4 spinel oxides are always used. The authors should emphasize the importance and roles of green hydrogen in the suitable part. Please refer to the paper with DOI of 10.1016/j.cej.2023.141674.

It has been inserted.

  1. The authors should add some necessary perspectives about the development of activity descriptors and application devices by using CoxMn3-xO4 spinel oxides in the suitable place.

These have been  inserted.

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