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 .
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 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.
Email Communication
Applicant is encouraged to authorize the Examiner to communicate with applicant via email by filing form PTO/SB/439 either via USPS, Central Fax, or EFS-Web. See MPEP 502.01, 502.03, 502.05.
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.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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) 1-10 & 12-15, & 17-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Okuno et al. (US 2016/0276112).
In regards to claim 1, Okuno ‘112 discloses
A method of amplifying interfacial capacitance in an electrochemical storage device, the method comprising:
applying a voltage ([0001]) to a porous metal electrode ([0050]) of an electrochemical storage device,
the electrochemical storage device comprising
the porous metal electrode ([0050]);
an electrolyte forming an interface with a surface of the porous metal electrode ([0178]), the electrolyte comprising an ionic liquid and a redox active metal ion ([0074]); and
a counter electrode ([0050]) in electrical communication with the porous metal electrode,
wherein at the voltage applied, the electrochemical storage device exhibits an increased capacitance as compared to the electrochemical storage device at the voltage applied but absent the redox active metal ion (abstract & [0074] - When the structure recited in the references is substantially identical to that of the claims, claimed properties are presumed to be inherent).
In regards to claim 2, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical storage device exhibits a capacitance value that is at least 400% of a capacitance value of the electrochemical storage device at the voltage applied but absent the redox active metal ion (abstract & [0074] - When the structure recited in the references is substantially identical to that of the claims, claimed properties are presumed to be inherent).
In regards to claim 3, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage applied is less negative than the redox active metal ion’s equilibrium potential and the method does not comprise application of a voltage at which the redox active metal ion deposits on itself ([0238]).
In regards to claim 4, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 1, wherein the redox active metal ion is selected from alkali metal ions ([0077]).
In regards to claim 5, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 1, wherein the redox active metal ion is selected from alkali metal ions other than Li+ ([0077]).
In regards to claim 6, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 1, wherein the redox active metal ion is Na+ ([0077]).
In regards to claim 7, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte comprises at least two different types of redox active metal ions ([0077]).
In regards to claim 8, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 7, wherein the at least two different types of redox active metal ions are selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, Zn2+, Al3+, La3+, and Fe3+ ([0077]).
In regards to claim 9, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 7, wherein the at least two different types of redox active metal ions comprise K+ and at least one of Li+ and Na+ ([0077]).
In regards to claim 10, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 7, wherein the at least two different redox active metal ions are K+ and Na+ ([0077]).
In regards to claim 12, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 1, wherein the porous metal electrode is gold, copper, silver, or an alloy thereof ([0103] & [0226-0027]).
In regards to claim 13, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 1, wherein the ionic liquid is an imidazolium sulfonimide; the redox active metal ions are selected from alkali metals ([0096]); and the porous metal electrode is gold, copper, silver, or an alloy thereof ([0103] & [0226-0027]).
In regards to claim 14, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 13, wherein the redox active metal ions comprise Na+ ([0077]).
In regards to claim 15, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 13, wherein the redox active metal ions comprise K+ and at least one of Li+ and Na+ ([0077]).
In regards to claim 17, Okuno ‘112 discloses
A method of amplifying interfacial capacitance in an electrochemical storage device, the method comprising:
applying a voltage ([0001]) to a porous metal electrode ([0050]) of an electrochemical storage device, the electrochemical storage device comprising
the porous metal electrode ([0050]);
an electrolyte forming an interface with a surface of the porous metal electrode ([0178]), the electrolyte comprising an ionic liquid and at least two different types of redox active metal ions ([0074] & [0077]); and
a counter electrode ([0050]) in electrical communication with the porous metal electrode,
wherein the voltage applied is less negative than that of each redox active metal ion’s equilibrium potential ([0238]).
In regards to claim 18, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 17, wherein the at least two different types of redox active metal ions are selected from Li+, Na+, and K+ ([0077]).
In regards to claim 19, Okuno ‘112 discloses
The method of claim 18, wherein the ionic liquid is an imidazolium sulfonimide ([0096]) and the porous metal electrode is gold, copper, silver, or an alloy thereof ([0103] & [0226-0027]).
In regards to claim 20, Okuno ‘112 discloses
An electrochemical storage device comprising:
a porous metal electrode ([0050]);
an electrolyte forming an interface with a surface of the porous metal electrode ([0178]), the electrolyte comprising an ionic liquid and a redox active metal ion ([0074] & [0077]); and
a counter electrode ([0050]) in electrical communication with the porous metal electrode, wherein at a voltage applied to the porous metal electrode that is less negative the redox active metal ion’s equilibrium potential, the electrochemical storage device exhibits an increased capacitance as compared to the electrochemical storage device at the voltage applied but absent the redox active metal ion ([0238] - When the structure recited in the references is substantially identical to that of the claims, claimed properties are presumed to be inherent).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 11 & 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Okuno ‘112.
In regards to claim 11,
Okuno ‘112 disclose all the claimed limitations discussed above with respect to claim 11, except for wherein the redox active metal ion is present in the electrolyte at an amount of from 7 mole percent to 13 mole percent. However, Okuno ‘112 disclsoes that the amount of redox metal ions in the electrolyte is a result effective variable, particularly for reducing increasing the capacity capacitor ([0098]). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to construct the capacitor of Okuno ‘112 such that the redox active metal ion is present in the electrolyte at an amount of from 7 mole percent to 13 mole percent order to increasing the capacity of the capacitor, as taught by Okuno ‘112. Where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233.
In regards to claim 16,
Okuno ‘112 disclose all the claimed limitations discussed above with respect to claim 16, except for wherein the redox active metal ion is present in the electrolyte at an amount of from 7 mole percent to 13 mole percent. However, Okuno ‘112 disclsoes that the amount of redox metal ions in the electrolyte is a result effective variable, particularly for reducing increasing the capacity capacitor ([0098]). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to construct the capacitor of Okuno ‘112 such that the redox active metal ion is present in the electrolyte at an amount of from 7 mole percent to 13 mole percent order to increasing the capacity of the capacitor, as taught by Okuno ‘112. Where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 2015/0255830 – [0069] US 2011/0043968 – [0041]
Ionic Liquids for Supercapacitor Applications – abstract
Biredox ionic liquids with solid-like redox density in the liquid state for high-energy supercapacitors – abstract
Electrochemical performance of electrochemical capacitors using Cu(II)-containing ionic liquid as the electrolyte - abstract
Communication
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID M SINCLAIR whose telephone number is (571)270-5068. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH from 8AM-4PM.
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/David M Sinclair/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2847
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