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 .
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: In claim 1, line 11, “wate” is misspelled. In claim 1, lines 24-25, “comprising” should be changed to “comprises”. 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 1-17 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. Claim 1 contains the limitation “the graphene oxide solution dispersion”, however this limitation lacks proper antecedent basis. The claim introduces only a dispersed graphene oxide solution and a dispersed reduced graphene oxide solution; as such, the claim as written is unclear. The dependent claims are likewise rejected as failing to cure the deficiencies of claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-17 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: WO 2013/040636 is considered the closest prior art of record. WO ‘636 teaches a method of producing reduced or partially reduced graphene oxide films (abstract) which may be used as an anti-fouling coating on marine structures (page 13). WO ‘636 teaches graphenes can be produced by dipping graphene oxide flakes in hydrazine, and heat (page 1), but teaches this is harsh and toxic. WO ‘636 further outlines that the rGO films may be formed in milliQ water and sonication in a mixture of potassium permanganate and sulphuric acid (Example 1). None of the prior art teach all of the specifically claimed steps of producing the reduced graphene oxide dispersion and forming said composite material and application of the composite material as claimed. There would have been no apparent reason or motivation to have modified the prior art to arrive at the claimed invention.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATHAN T. LEONG whose telephone number is (571)270-5352. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10:00-6:00pm.
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/NATHAN T LEONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1718
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