DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
The Applicant’s response was received on 4/9/26.
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S.C. code not included in this action can be found in the prior Office 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 4/9/26 has been entered.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 4/9/26 has been considered by the examiner.
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.
Claim 3 is 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 limitation discloses, “the graphene oxide is single layer or a multilayer including more than or equal to 2 layers and less than or equal to 100 layers,” is unclear since it appears having a single layer does not alos include more than or equal to 2 layers and less htan or equal to 100 layers. Please amend the claims to “the graphene oxide is single layer or a multilayer, the multilayer including more than or equal to 2 layers and less than or equal to 100 layers,” to clarify the claims. Appropriate corrections are required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 4, 6, 7 are allowed.
EXAMINER’S AMENDMENT
An examiner’s amendment to the record appears below. Should the changes and/or additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment may be filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312. To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee.
The application has been amended as follows:
Please cancel claim 5. Claim 5 does not include any allowable subject matter.
REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the instant claims are to a method for forming a positive electrode, comprising the steps of forming a dispersion liquid comprising graphene oxide, forming a mixture by mixing an active material having a layered rock salt structure with the dispersion liquid, forming a paste by mixing a binder with the mixture after forming the mixture, applying the paste to a current collector to form an active material layer, drying the paste, and reducing the graphene oxide after the step of forming the mixture. The steps of forming the paste, applying the paste, and drying the paste are performed before the step of reducing the graphene oxide.
The closest prior art CN102244236 to Wu et al. reference discloses a method in preparing lithium cathode comprising the lithium oxide (active material with layered rock salt structure) is ground into a powder and the powder is evenly dispersed in graphene oxide aqueous solution by ultrasonic treatment. The mixture is reduced by added vitamin C aqueous solution. However, the Wu et al. reference does not disclose, nearly disclose or provide method of forming positive electrode comprising the steps of forming a paste by mixing a binder with the mixture after forming the mixture, applying the paste to a current collector to form an active material layer and drying the paste and wherein the steps of forming the paste, applying the paste, and drying the paste are performed before the step of reducing the graphene oxide.
The prior art Reduced graphene oxide supported highly porous V2O5 spheres as a high power cathode material for lithium ion batteries to Rui et al. discloses a method for forming a positive electrode (Title), comprising the steps of forming a dispersion liquid comprising graphene oxide and NMP. The dispersion liquid formed a mixture by mixing a precursor with ammonia which resulted in an active material mixture with the dispersion liquid (Preparation of rGO supported highly porous V2Os spheres), and reducing the graphene oxide (scheme 1: solvothermal reduction). However, the Rui et al. reference does not disclose, nearly disclose or provide method of forming positive electrode comprising the steps of forming a paste by mixing a binder with the mixture after forming the mixture, applying the paste to a current collector to form an active material layer and drying the paste and wherein the steps of forming the paste, applying the paste, and drying the paste are performed before the step of reducing the graphene oxide.
The prior art US Publication 2003/0099884 to Chiang et al. reference that cathode materials of LiCoOz, LINiOz, LiMnOz, V2Os are all well known to those skilled in the art as cathode materials (P219). However, the Chiang et al. reference does not disclose, nearly disclose or provide motivation to modify the method of forming positive electrode comprising the steps of forming a paste by mixing a binder with the mixture after forming the mixture, applying the paste to a current collector to form an active material layer and drying the paste and wherein the steps of forming the paste, applying the paste, and drying the paste are performed before the step of reducing the graphene oxide.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HELEN OI CONLEY whose telephone number is (571)272-5162. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Nicholas Smith can be reached on 5712728760. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Helen Oi K CONLEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1752
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