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 carbon nanotube as the nanocarbon, claims 1-6 and 15-20 in the reply filed on 2 June 2026 is acknowledged.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-6 and 15-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by US2018/0323421A1 (Shen).
Regarding claims 1-4 and 20, Shen teaches a battery cell comprises an electrode comprising a coated film on a current collector([0177] and [0202]), wherein the coated film is formed by applying a slurry comprising an electrode active material and a conductive agent such as carbon nanotubes ([0127] and [0130]), and free of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and NMP ([0111] and [0132]), which meets the claimed energy storage device.
Regarding claim 5, Shen teaches that the conductive agent is pre-treated to enhance wettability ([0134]), thus enhancing adhesion.
Regarding claim 6, Shen teaches the slurry may further comprise a surfactant ([0154]-[0155]).
Regarding claims 15-18,Shen teaches that the battery cell comprises an electrolyte solution comprising LiPF6 and a mixture of ethyl methyl carbonate, dimethyl carbonate and ethylene carbonate ([0202]), which meets the claimed electrolyte, linear and cyclic carbonate, respectively.
Regarding claim 19, Shen exemplifies that the capacity retention after 3,000 cycles is about 82.6% ([0226]), which meets the claimed cycle life.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AIQUN LI whose telephone number is (571)270-7736. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00 am -4:00 pm.
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/AIQUN LI/ Ph.D., Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1766
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