DETAILED ACTION
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 04/21/2026 has been entered. Claims 1, 5, 9-19, 22, and 23 are pending. Claims 22 and 23 are new.
Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks, with respect to claims 1, 5, 9-19, and 22 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The previous 35 USC 103 rejections over Nicolosi et al. (US 2022/037853) in view of Beidaghi et al. (US 2021/0115284) and Zhou (US 2014/0011069) have been withdrawn.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claims 23 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nicolosi et al. (US 2022/037853) in view of Beidaghi et al. (US 2021/0115284).
Regarding claim 23, Nicolosi teaches high-capacity electrodes comprising:
electrode active material including LiFePO4 (first type of material) (para 0016); and
2D inorganic materials selected from TMDs (third type of material), MXenes (second type of material), other layered compound, and combinations thereof (para 0015).
More specifically, TMDs are selected from MoS2, NbSe2, WS2, TaS2 (para 0015). MXenes are selected from Ti2C, (Ti0.5,Nb0.5)2C, V2C, Nb2C, Mo2C, Ti3C2, Ti3CN, Zr3C2 (para 0045) include general formula Mn+1XnTx, where T is an optional functional group, for example, O, F, and OH (para 0045).
With respect to the third type material loaded in a layer of the second type material, the negative electrode comprises a stack of two or more layers of the segregated network of nanosheets of the 2D conducting materials. The stacking of the layers can be achieved by either (i) coating an additional slurry casted layer(s) on top of a first slurry casted layer to achieve a thick multi-layered wet electrode wherein the multilayers are subsequently dried or (ii) coating an additional slurry casted layer(s) on top of a previously coated and dried slurry casted layer to achieve a thick electrode in steps (para 0025). In either case, when the combination of MXenes and TMDs are together in the same layer form a composite of the second-type and third-type of material, the third type material loaded in a layer of the second type material.
Nicolosi does not teach T = Cl.
Beidaghi, directed to MXenes, teaches T may be O, F, and OH and also Cl (para 0059).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to substitute one functional group for another where the specific group of atoms or bonds for a characteristic chemical property or reaction (Beidaghi, para 0059).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to select lithium iron phosphate, TMDs, and 2D inorganic materials selected from TMDs, MXenes, other layered compound, and combinations thereof from the lists recited in Nicolosi (para 0015).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 5, 9-19, and 22 are allowed.
Conclusion
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/CARLOS BARCENA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1723
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