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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
1. Claims 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
With regard to Claim 1, it is unclear as to what constitutes “in a proportion” in step 3 with respect to combining the modified electrode powder, conductive agent acetylene black, pore forming agent, short-carbon fibers, and mixed glue. For purposes of examination, the amounts recited by Claim 6 are presumed. Claims 2-10 are similarly rejected to the extent they depend from Claim 1 and do not resolve the noted ambiguity.
With regard to Claims 2 and 3, the term “preferably” renders each claim ambiguous as it is unclear if the elements which follow are necessarily contemplated by the claims. For purposes of examination, the term “preferably” is interpreted as “selected from the group consisting of.”
With regard to Claim 4, it is unclear if the pore forming agent is limited to the listed soluble inorganic salt solids due to recitation of the phrase “such as.” For purposes of examination, Claim 4 is understood to recite that the pore forming agent is a mixture of one or more soluble inorganic salt solids “selected from the group consisting of” the recited salts.
With regard to Claim 7, it is unclear if the current collector material is all of the listed elements due to the recitation of “and” before the final eligible material. For purposes of examination, Claim 7 is understood to recite that the current collector is “selected from the group consisting of” the recited materials.
Remarks
Claims 1-10 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112 as noted. If amended to overcome said rejection, Claims 1-10 are understood to be directed to allowable subject matter. The closest prior art is deemed to be Kim et al.; An Electrochemical Cell for Selective Lithium Capture from Seawater; Environmental Science & Technology; 2015, 49, 9415-9422; (“Kim”). Kim teaches a method of preparing a selective electrode for lithium extraction wherein a powdered lithium iron phosphate electrode active material is modified with polydopamine via immersion in a dopamine chloride solution adjusted to a pH of 8.5 (see Abstract; Materials and Methods at Pg. 9417). The thus-modified electrode material is washed and dried under vacuum (Id.). Kim further instructs production of electrodes wherein the modified electrode material is dispersed in N-methyl pyrrolidone solvent with polyvinylidene fluoride binder and denka black conductive agent to render a slurry subsequently cast on a stainless steel plate (Id.). Kim does not teach or suggest addition of pore forming agent and short-carbon fibers of the recited length and in the amounts recited by Claim 1, as interpreted, in the preparation of the electrode slurry.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Michael P Rodriguez whose telephone number is (571)270-3736. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00 - 6:00 Eastern M-F.
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/Michael P. Rodriguez/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1715