Appeal 2006-2903
Application 10/296,359
described gas diffusion electrodes are used in electrochemical cells. In
Example 1, Ashida discloses an electrode substrate (catalyst support
material) that is formed from nickel cermet that is coated with silver plating
(col. 5, ll. 37-45). Ashida further discloses a hydrophobic collector that
comprises nickel mesh (metallic baseplate) that is coated with a coating
composition comprising silver powder and PTFE (col. 5, ll. 46-57). The
described electrode substrate and hydrophobic collector are combined to
form a gas diffusion electrode (col. 5, ll. 58-62). As such, Ashida describes
a catalyst support material (nickel cermet) having applied thereto a catalyst
coating composition this structure being joined to a stiff metallic baseplate
(nickel mesh) to form a gas diffusion electrode.
Appellants argue that Ashida does not anticipate the claimed subject
matter because the additional rigid support of the claimed invention is not
disclosed (Br. 5). This argument is not persuasive because Ashida describes
a collector comprising nickel mesh, which meets the rigid support of the
presently claimed invention.2
Claims 14 and 15 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as obvious
over Ashida and Gestermann. According to the Examiner, Gestermann
teaches a gas diffusion electrode having a metallic grid structure that is
welded along the unperforated edge to the electrochemical cell apparatus.
The Examiner concludes that it would have been obvious to weld the gas
diffusion electrode of Ashida to the apparatus assembly in order to obtain a
gas-tight apparatus (Answer 4). The Appellants have not challenged the
Examiner's rationale for combining the teachings of Gestermann with
2 Appellants have not presented arguments directed to the catalyst material
containing coating composition.
4
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007