Facile Synthesis of Iron Phosphide Nanoparticles in 3D Porous Carbon Framework as Superior Anodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Comments:

Manuscript ID: coatings-3419965
Title: Facile Synthesis of Iron Phosphide Nanoparticles in 3D Porous Carbon Framework as Superior Anode for Sodium-Ion Batteries

The manuscript presents a promising study on the synthesis of iron phosphide nanoparticles in a 3D porous carbon framework for sodium-ion battery applications. However, several revisions are necessary before the manuscript can be considered for publication. Below are the detailed comments and suggestions:

1. The author should expand the introduction section by discussing more recent papers on related topics. Including the latest developments in the field would enhance the context and significance of the research.
2. The XRD data for Fe3C@PCF and FeP nanoparticles should be moved from the supplementary information to the main manuscript. Additionally, the comparison between FeP@PCF and these materials should be clearly presented to highlight the differences.
3. The manuscript would benefit from the inclusion of additional characterization techniques, such as TGA, Raman spectroscopy, and BET surface area results for Fe3C@PCF and FeP. These results should be compared with the FeP@PCF data to give a more comprehensive understanding of the materials' properties.
4. In Figure 2(b), the figure caption incorrectly mentions "FeP@PC." It should be corrected to "FeP@PCF" to match the material discussed in the manuscript.
5. The XPS spectra in Figure 4(d) for the Fe 2p peaks should be deconvoluted to provide a more detailed analysis of the chemical states. This is critical for understanding the surface chemistry of the materials.
6. The manuscript should include cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves for the FeP nanoparticles electrode. This will help to further validate the electrochemical performance of the individual anode material.
7. The manuscript lacks CV and EIS data for the Na3V2(PO4)3 // FeP@PCF full cell. Including these measurements would significantly enhance the analysis of the full cell's electrochemical performance and provide a more comprehensive view of the material's potential in practical applications.
8. The cycling performance is only evaluated for 25 cycles, which may not provide sufficient insight into the long-term stability of the material. It is recommended to extend the cycling test to at least 100 cycles to better assess the material's durability.
9. There are several grammatical errors throughout the manuscript. These should be carefully checked and corrected to improve the clarity and readability of the text.

Recommendation: The manuscript requires major revision to address the above points. After the necessary revisions are made, the manuscript can be reconsidered for publication.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript, entitled "Facile Synthesis of Iron Phosphide Nanoparticles in 3D Porous Carbon Framework as Superior Anode for Sodium-Ion Batteries," is devoted to the research of a highly efficient FeP-based anode material for SiBs. The topic of sodium-ion energy storage is of great relevance, and the subject of the manuscript lies in the area of the special issue "Coatings for Batteries and Energy Storage." The manuscript is well-written and the data are concisely presented. After minor improvements and additions, the manuscript can be considered for publication.

 - In the introduction, further elucidation is required to provide a comprehensive understanding of the phrase "sodium storage performance."

 - It is imperative to provide a comprehensive rationale substantiating the efficacy of FeP as an electrode for SiB. Typically, electrode materials must exhibit reversibility through the presence of charged cations, such as Na+. However, the composition of FeP does not include sodium.

 - It is imperative to elucidate the nature of the coproduct in the reaction of NaH2PO2 + Fe3C@PCF and the method by which FeP@PCF was purified from it.

 - Page 4, line 122, Fig. S1(a, b, c). Regrettably, a link to the supporting graphics could not be located.

 - It is necessary to ascertain the intended meaning of the caption in Fig.1d FeP@CNF. One possibility is that it is a typo.

 - Why the TG curve in Fig.3a does not start from 100 ?

 - It is imperative to ascertain whether the cells with PCFs and NPs were of equivalent area. This is due to the fact that the data in Fig.6 have not been normalized by area.

 - At the conclusion of the manuscript, a detailed table should be included that characterizes the most popular anodes for SiB.

Author Response

 

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The author revised certain sections carefully, but due to time constraints, some results could not be completed. Based on the revisions made, I recommend this article for publication.