Response to comments on

authors	Rondao, AIB; Martins, NCT; Patricio, SG; Marques, FMB
nationality	International
journal	INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
author keywords	Composites; Ceria; Alkaline carbonates; Ionic conductivity enhancement; Impedance spectroscopy
keywords	CARBONATE; ELECTROLYTE; PHASE; STABILITY; MEMBRANES; SYSTEMS
abstract	A recent commentary suggesting mishandled literature data in the analysis of the performance of composites including salts (alkaline carbonates) and oxides (pure ceria) is shown here as invalid. Even inadequately invoked data for the salt conductivity is shown to remain below the required performance. This conclusion is inevitable when due attention is paid to the salt volume fraction (50 vol%) and electrical pathway (tortuosity, >= 2) within the composite, both decreasing the effective electrical conductivity with respect to the fully dense salt. Furthermore, newly invoked data is inadequate for not being representative of the properties of the salt under analysis, including mismatching chemical composition and electrical performance. Other issues transgressing usual standards in scientific communications are also shortly addressed. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
publisher	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
issn	0360-3199
isbn	1879-3487
year published	2017
volume	42
issue	38
beginning page	24590
ending page	24595
digital object identifier (doi)	10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.07.216
web of science category	Chemistry, Physical; Electrochemistry; Energy & Fuels
subject category	Chemistry; Electrochemistry; Energy & Fuels
unique article identifier	WOS:000412612300062