TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The carbon layer has a surface resistance of 0.01-100 omega /m2, volume density of 0.1-2.2 g/cm3, and thickness of 10 nm to 5 mm. The carbon layer material is soft graphite paper, carbon fiber paper, carbon fiber film, piece-shaped graphite, scale-shaped graphite, vermicular graphite, single-wall nanotube, multi-wall nanotube, graphene and/or fullerene. The acid is hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, bromic acid, hydrogen iodide, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, perchloric acid, fluoroboric acid or hexafluorophosphoric acid. The oxidizing agent is ammonium persulfate, potassium persulfate or water. The oxidizing agent is ferric chloride, ceric sulfate or copper chloride.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Component: The metal comprises iron, copper, aluminum, titanium, nickel, gold, or platinum.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The acid is trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, benzoic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, acetic acid or dodecyl sulfonic acid    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The conducting polymer is one or more of 5 groups, e.g. groups of formulae (A)-(C), preferably phenylamine, pyrrole, 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene, and/or 3-ethylthiophene. The conducting polymer layer has a thickness of 0.01-20 mu m. The composite counter electrode comprises base plate, metal, and glass and/or ceramic. The base plate comprises plastic comprising polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene glycol terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyether sulfone, polyimide, polypropylene or nylon. The ratio of conducting polymer monomer and oxidizing agent is 1-1.25:1A=F-, Cl-, Br-, I-, HSO4-, NO3-, ClO4-, BF4-, PF6-, (CF3SO2)2N-, C6H5COO-, CF3COO-, CH3COO-, C12H23SO3- or C12H23C6H5SO3-;andR1-R8=H, cyclohexylalkyl, cycloalkyl, epoxy, aromatic, NH2, NO2, CN, COOH, acyl, alkyl sulfonyl, alkyl sulfenyl, ester, halogenated alkyl, sulfonyl, acyloxy or heterocyclic radical;andn, m=not defined.