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 .
Claim Objections
Claim 1 objected to because of the following informalities: the phrase “for lithium secondary battery” should read as “for a lithium secondary battery” for grammatical antecedent basis. Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claims 1 and 3-11 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.
The term “needle-like” is considered indefinite. Claim 2 provides the dimensional bounds of the needle-like material, but claim 2 is further limiting and defining of claim 1, and there is no known bounds for the broader scope of “needle-like” in claim 1. Claim 2 requires a minor:major axis of less than 1, which represents just less than a circle or sphere, so the broader scope of “needle-like” is not known to one of ordinary skill in the art without the defined scope of claim 2.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the primary particle surface" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The introduction of just a primary particle is in claim 3.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the secondary particle surface" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The introduction of just a secondary particle is in claim 3.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the secondary particle surface" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The introduction of just a secondary particle is in claim 3.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 2 objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claims 1-11 would be found allowable (through independent claim 1) if the rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) is overcome.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: claim 1 requires a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery, comprising: a core containing a lithium nickel-based compound having a Ni content of 80 mol % or more; and a coating material positioned on at least a portion of the core surface; wherein, the coating material includes a first coating material containing at least one of group 5 elements and group 6 elements; and S; and a second coating material including B, LiOH, Li2CO3, and Li2SO4, and the second coating material is a needle-like material. The coatings suppress an increase in resistance to improve the cycle life [pages 7 and 8].
Prior art reference US PGPub 2018/0219219 discloses a positive electrode active material particle with a needle-shaped crystal in contact with the active particle [Abstract, Figure 8A]. The positive active material includes a lithium nickel cobalt oxide [0046]. The needle-shaped crystal has a major axis length and minor axis length [0060] with an aspect ratio of greater than 2. The lithium-containing layer may be a combination of an oxide of niobium and boron [0052, 0053] or a sulfide [0064]. However, there is no teaching or suggestion of a group 5 or 6 element coating combination with sulfur, nor the needle-like material that comprises B, LiOH, Li2CO3, and Li2SO4 as required by the claims.
Prior art reference WO2006/027925 (see 03/03/2025 IDS) discloses a positive electrode material [Abstract]. Li compound particles on the surface may include Li2O-B2O3, Li2SO4, Li2CO3, or LiOH either singly or in combination of two or more from the viewpoint of the diffusion constant of lithium ions [pages 8 and 9]. As an alternative to the spherical particles, the base lithium nickel oxide may be shaped as a needle [page 6 lines 5-10]. However, even if Li2O-B2O3, Li2SO4, Li2CO3, and LiOH are combined, a needle particle is chosen, and a uniform coating 3 [Figure 2] is arbitrarily chosen so as to read on an inherent needle shaped coating, the reference states that a considered lithium vanadium (group 5 element) oxide coating is deficient in capacity and cycling durability for a vehicle application [pages 2 and 3]. The possible combinations do not suggest a group 5 or 6 element coating combination with sulfur, nor the needle-like material that comprises B, LiOH, Li2CO3, and Li2SO4 as required by the claims.
None of the prior art references recognize the benefits of the claimed invention as cited above. Therefore, taking into consideration the aforementioned reasons, the prior art does not disclose, teach, suggest, or render obvious the claimed requirement of a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery, comprising: a core containing a lithium nickel-based compound having a Ni content of 80 mol % or more; and a coating material positioned on at least a portion of the core surface; wherein, the coating material includes a first coating material containing at least one of group 5 elements and group 6 elements; and S; and a second coating material including B, LiOH, Li2CO3, and Li2SO4, and the second coating material is a needle-like material.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER P DOMONE whose telephone number is (571)270-7582. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-4:30 PM.
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/CHRISTOPHER P DOMONE/Primary Patent Examiner
Art Unit 1725