Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Arguments
The following is in response to the applicant’s remarks filed 09/24/25.
The applicant submits that the previous rejection is improper as it does not teach the cross-linking agent in monomer form and that a person of ordinary skill in the art would not have made the proposed combination.
The examiner agrees that the previous rejection does not teach the cross-linking in monomer form. For this reason, the previous rejection is withdrawn. Regarding the arguments against the proposed combination, the examiner respectfully disagrees as detailed in the new basis for rejection below.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 1 – 3, 5 – 12, and 15 – 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 by Liu, US20160149218A1, and Hendricks, US20200362181A1, and Kang, US20120189911A1.
Regarding claim 1, Liu teaches a cathode for a lithium-sulfur cell [0001][0002],
the cathode comprising:
one or more cathode active materials, comprising sulfur and/or sulfur-based materials (sulfur based active material)[0017];
one or more conductive materials (conductive filler)[0017]; and,
at least one binder, wherein the binder comprises a polymeric material having ammonium functional groups (diallyldimethylammonium chloride polymer binder)[0046]
wherein the binder comprises a polymer of monomers and wherein the monomers comprise the ammonium functional groups (diallyldimethylammonium chloride polymer binder)[0046]
Liu does not teach a crosslinking agent, and wherein the cross-linking agent is ethylene glycol diacrylate.
Hendricks teaches a battery electrode [0003] comprising an electrode material comprising sulfur [0140] comprising a coating comprising a binder (polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride conductive polymer)[0014][0019] and a crosslinking agent (polyethylene glycol diacrylate crosslinking agent)[0071]. Further, Hendricks teaches that crosslinking the binder increases the binder’s adhesive strength [0070]. Then, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to combine the crosslinking agent of Hendricks into the binder of Liu to improve the adhesive strength of the polymer binder.
Kang teaches a secondary battery [0003] comprising cathode material mixture comprising a binder [0037] wherein the binder is cross-linked using suitable methacrylate compounds such as polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) or ethylene glycol diacrylate (EGDA)[0027][0072] to improve cycle characteristics and binder adhesiveness [0015] in a cathode mixture. Then, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date to combine the teaching for suitable crosslinking agents including PEGDA and EDGA with the linked binder of Hendricks as a simple substitution of one known element for another yielding predictable results.
Regarding claim 2, combined Liu teaches the cathode of claim 1.
Further, Liu teaches wherein the ammonium functional groups comprise ammonium chloride groups (diallyldimethylammonium chloride polymer binder)[0046].
Regarding claim 3, combined Liu teaches the cathode of claim 2.
Further, Liu teaches wherein the ammonium functional groups comprise trimethylammonium and/or dimethylammonium groups (diallyldimethylammonium chloride polymer binder)[0046].
Regarding claim 5, combined Liu teaches the cathode of claim 1.
Further, Liu teaches wherein the binder comprises: (ii) a polymer formed from diallyldimethylammonium chloride monomers (diallyldimethylammonium chloride polymer binder)[0046].
Regarding claim 6, combined Liu teaches the cathode of claim 1.
Further, Liu teaches wherein the binder comprises: (ii) a polymer formed from diallyldimethylammonium chloride monomers (diallyldimethylammonium chloride polymer binder)[0046]
Further, Hendricks teaches cross-linked with ethylene glycol diacrylate (polyethylene glycol diacrylate crosslinking agent)[0071].
Regarding claim 7, combined Liu teaches the cathode of claim 6.
Further, Liu teaches wherein the one or more conductive materials comprise carbon and/or carbon-based materials [0047].
Regarding claim 8, combined Liu teaches the cathode of claim 6.
Further, Liu teaches wherein the one or more conductive materials comprise carbon black, carbon spheres, and/or carbon nanotubes [0047].
Regarding claim 9, combined Liu teaches the lithium-sulfur battery comprising a lithium anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode according to claim 6 [0015].
Regarding claim 10, Liu teaches a cathode composition for forming a cathode for a lithium-sulfur battery [0001][0002],
the cathode material comprising:
one or more cathode active materials, comprising sulfur and/or sulfur-based materials (sulfur based active material)[0017];
one or more conductive materials (conductive filler)[0017]; and,
at least one binder, wherein the binder comprises a polymeric material having ammonium functional groups (diallyldimethylammonium chloride polymer binder)[0046]
Liu does not teach a crosslinking agent, and wherein the cross-linking agent is ethylene glycol diacrylate.
Hendricks teaches a battery electrode [0003] comprising an electrode material comprising sulfur [0140] and conductive materials [0095] and a binder (polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride conductive polymer)[0014][0019] and a crosslinking agent (polyethylene glycol diacrylate crosslinking agent)[0071]. Further, Hendricks teaches that crosslinking the binder increases the binder’s adhesive strength. Then, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to combine the crosslinking agent of Hendricks into the binder of Liu to improve adhesive strength.
Regarding claim 11, combined Liu teaches the cathode composition of claim 10.
Further, Liu teaches wherein the ammonium functional groups comprise ammonium chloride groups (diallyldimethylammonium chloride polymer binder)[0046].
Regarding claim 12, combined Liu teaches the cathode composition of claim 11.
Further, Liu teaches wherein the ammonium functional groups comprise trimethylammonium and/or dimethylammonium groups (diallyldimethylammonium chloride polymer binder)[0046].
Regarding claim 14, combined Liu teaches the cathode composition of claim 10.
Further, Liu teaches wherein the binder comprises: (ii) a polymer formed from diallyldimethylammonium chloride monomers (diallyldimethylammonium chloride polymer binder)[0046]
Regarding claim 15, combined Liu teaches the cathode of claim 10.
Further, Liu teaches wherein the binder comprises: (ii) a polymer formed from diallyldimethylammonium chloride monomers (diallyldimethylammonium chloride polymer binder)[0046]
Further, Hendricks teaches cross-linked with ethylene glycol diacrylate (polyethylene glycol diacrylate crosslinking agent)[0071].
Regarding claim 16, combined Liu teaches the cathode composition of claim 15.
Further, Liu teaches wherein the one or more conductive materials comprise carbon and/or carbon-based materials [0047].
Regarding claim 17, combined Liu teaches the cathode composition of claim 15.
Further, Liu teaches wherein the one or more conductive materials comprise carbon black, carbon spheres, and/or carbon nanotubes [0047].
Regarding claim 18, combined Liu teaches the cathode of claim 1.
Further, Liu teaches wherein the one or more conductive materials comprise carbon and/or carbon-based materials [0047].
Regarding claim 19, combined Liu teaches the cathode of claim 1.
Further, Liu teaches wherein the one or more conductive materials comprise carbon black, carbon spheres, and/or carbon nanotubes [0047].
Regarding claim 20, Liu teaches the lithium-sulfur battery comprising a lithium anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode according to claim 1 [0015].
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PATRICK M GREENE whose telephone number is (571)270-1340. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Miriam Stagg can be reached at (571)270-5256. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PATRICK MARSHALL GREENE/Examiner, Art Unit 1724
/STEWART A FRASER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1724