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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species II (Claims 3-8 and 15-21) in the reply filed on 08-11-2026 is acknowledged.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 04-25-2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 3-8 and 15-21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2020/0152978 hereinafter Cho.
Regarding Claim 3, Cho teaches a method of preparing an electrode for a battery (paragraph 64), the method comprising: mixing a metal hydroxide precursor with a lithium source (i.e., mixing iron containing precursor with zinc containing precursor); and injecting a sulfur-containing gas into the reactor (paragraphs 65-66, 71).
Regarding Claims 4-8, Cho teaches that the composition for the sulfur-containing gas is not limited (paragraph 74) and can include Na2S and/or H2S; that the precursor comprises zinc solvent and gelling agent; and drying in a furnace at or below 800o C (paragraph 70).
Regarding Claim 15, Cho teaches a method of preparing an electrode for a battery (paragraph 64), the method comprising: mixing a metal hydroxide precursor with a lithium source (i.e., mixing iron containing precursor with zinc containing precursor); and injecting a sulfur-containing gas into the reactor (paragraphs 65-66, 71). Cho further teaches that the firing process is increased from room temperature to 700 or 800o C (i.e., firing the precursor composition to form a slurry and then injecting a sulfur-containing gas at about 400 to 600 o C), while maintaining a selected concentration of the sulfide source gas (paragraphs 72-74).
Regarding Claims 16-21, Cho teaches that the firing process is increased from room temperature to 700 or 800o C (i.e., firing the precursor composition to form a slurry and then injecting a sulfur-containing gas at about 400 to 600 o C), while maintaining a selected concentration of the sulfide source gas (paragraphs 72-74). Cho further teaches that the composition for the sulfur-containing gas is not limited (paragraph 74) and can include Na2S and/or H2S.
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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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, NICHOLAS A SMITH can be reached at (571)272-8760. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/OSEI K AMPONSAH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1752
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