DETAILED ACTION
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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 05-19-2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 6-11 of Remarks, filed 01-14-2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1, 7-8, 12, 19-22, 30-31, 33, 35-36, 38, 40-41 under 35 U.S.C. § 102/103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of US 2012/0052375.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102/103
Claim(s) 1, 7-8, 12, 19-22, 30-31, 33, 35-36, 38, 40-41 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2012/0052375 hereinafter Johnson.
Regarding Claim 1, Johnson teaches a positive electrode (cathode) comprising: a positive electrode active material that is made of a lithium containing material having spinel-type structure represented by a formula of NayLixNizMn(1-z-z')Mz'Od, (wherein z’ can be 0 and such M is not present) (paragraph 24). Johnson further teaches that the lithium containing material is represented by Na1.0Li0.2Ni0.25Mn0.75Od (paragraph 36, see Examples 1-10).
Alternatively, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use such positive electrode active material with z’ being 0 before the effective filing date of the claimed invention because Johnson discloses that such configuration can form a lithium secondary battery having improved capacity and stability in cycles (paragraphs 25-26).
Regarding Claims 7-8, Johnson teaches that the lithium containing material is represented by Na1.0Li0.2Ni0.25Mn0.75Od and has spinel-type structure (paragraphs 24, 36, see Examples 1-10).
Regarding Claim 12, Johnson teaches that the positive electrode active material as shown above is a cobalt-free positive electrode (cathode).
Regarding Claims 19-22, Johnson teaches a method for preparing the positive electrode, and evidence by (US 2018/0316009 hereinafter Park) the method comprising: preparing a slurry containing a solvent, the active material, a conductive additive, and a binder; forming the slurry on a substrate; and drying the positive electrode (cathode) (paragraphs 18-21 of Inamasu). Park further teaches that the solvent is N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone or water; the conductive additive is carbon black; and the binder is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) (paragraph 131).
Regarding Claims 30-31, 33, 35-36, 38 and 40-41, Johnson teaches a lithium secondary battery comprising the positive electrode (cathode) as described above, a negative electrode (anode), and an electrolyte (paragraph 47) and the battery having the claimed characteristics and functions (see MPEP § 2112.01).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to OSEI K AMPONSAH whose telephone number is (571)270-3446. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm EST.
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/OSEI K AMPONSAH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1752
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