Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
The specification teaches the compound semiconductor mainly containing Ag, Ge and S. It is unclear if the phrase “mainly containing” means the compound semiconductor composition is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements; or if it is a synonym for “consisting essentially of “ and limits the scope of the compound semiconductor composition to the specified materials and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed invention. It is noted that the disclosed process and the examples teach Ag-Ge-S compound semiconductor, which means the compound semiconductor consists of Ag, Ge and S. 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 1-10 and 28 are 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.
Claims 1-9 define the compound semiconductor as mainly containing Ag, Ge and S. It is unclear if the phrase “mainly containing” means the compound semiconductor composition is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements; or if it is a synonym for “consisting essentially of “ and limits the scope of the compound semiconductor composition to the specified materials and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed invention. Therefore these claims are indefinite. Claim 28 includes the compound semiconductor of claim 1 and thus is also indefinite for the reasons why claim 1 is indefinite.
Claim 10 recites the limitation "the Ag component" and “the Ge component” in lines 4-5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is suggested to delete “the” from "the Ag component" and “the Ge component” to overcome this rejection.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 11-27 are allowed.
Claims 1-10 and 28 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
There is no teaching or suggestion in the art of record of producing Ag-Ge-S semiconductor nanoparticles by the claimed process, wherein the molar ratio of Ag to Ge in the produced Ag-Ge-S is 1 to less than 7.5 and the produced nanoparticles have an average size of 9 nm or less.
There is no teaching or suggestion in the art of record of semiconductor nanoparticles comprising a compound semiconductor of silver, germanium and sulfur, wherein the molar ratio of Ag to Ge in the compound semiconductor is 1 to less than 7.5 and the nanoparticles have an average size of 9 nm or less.
The closest art of record is the McKeown et al article which teaches a compound semiconductor having the formula Ag2SrGeS4. While this reference teaches a compound semiconductor mainly containing Ag, Ge and S and the taught compound semiconductor has a molar ratio of Ag:Ge of 2:1; there is no teaching or suggestion that the taught compound semiconductor is in the form of nanoparticles nor is there any teaching or suggestion to form nanoparticles of the taught compound semiconductor is in the form of nanoparticles.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to C. MELISSA KOSLOW whose telephone number is (571)272-1371. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Tues:7:45-3:45 EST;Thurs-Fri:6:30-2:00EST; and Wed:7:45-2:00EST.
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/C Melissa Koslow/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1734
cmk
9/3/26
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