Fluorescence Emission Behaviors of the L-Cysteine/Au(I) Complex in a Cyclodextrin-Based Metal-Organic Framework
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
I think that your manuscript is acceptable for the Journal. However, to make the article easier for readers, information should be presented more clearly. For example, it should be emphasized that the crystal structure was determined using the powder X-ray diffraction method (not single crystal method). It can be also specified what model of nitrogen adsprption-desprption isotherm was used. Besides, the thermal analysis results could be presented graphically in the section 'Results and Discussion'. However, this is at the discretion of the authors.
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Reviewer 2 Report
The paper reports on the encapsulation of Au-cysteine complex into the pores of the CD based MOF.
The aggregation-induced emission of the complex was investigated by measuring the fluorescence emission upon 350 nm light irradiation. The compound was characterized with several techniques and the results are quite interesting, paving the way to other application as solid state phosphor or imaging for biological purposes.
I have some issues to the manuscript which require revisions.
-Some information more on the structure of the CD-MOF should be provided. What is the unit cell and space groups? what is the size of the windows and the reported micropore volume? What is the role of alkali ion in the crystal structure assembly? what the grey rectangles in figure 1 mean?
-Cys5Au4 complex looks to be a quite big molecule. The BET analysis of the complex@CD-MOF should be discussed in better detail especially for highlithing any change in the pore size distribution.
-A general broadening of the XRPD pattern is clear observed in figure 4, especially at high 2-theta value. It could indicate a general loss of crystallinity upon complex encapsulation or better that the complex very likely produce partial crystal disaggregation
-Figure 7 reports the emission intensity of CD-MOF with different loading of Au-cyst complex. However in the experimental part the synthesis of CD-MOF with different loading is not reported but just discussed very briefly. Why the emission of 0.72 is higher than 0.90 fraction? Please explain better.
Author Response
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Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Authors have answered only in part to my queries. Adsorption isotherm is not shown and not discussed in quantitative term. Molecular cross section of the absorbed complex should yield in some change in the isotherm at least on the overall specific surface, due to the weight of Au atoms. If nothing changes it should be explicated by a surface adsorption of the complex.
Also, in the new figure I do not se the position of K ions and the way they are linked to the CD moietes.
Anyway, I let the editor the decision to address these concerns again or or to accept in the present form
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