TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The process-1 is conducted at a temperature of no more than 50 degrees C, preferably no more than 0 degrees C. The process-3 further comprises: removing the molecular oxygen gas formed in the first compartment from the first compartment, and removing the molecular hydrogen formed in second compartment from the second compartment; separating the molecular hydrogen from the second metal-solute species solution before providing the second metal-solute species to the first compartment. Preferred Components: The (oxidized form of) metal-solute species comprises one or more of gold (III) ion, lead (II, IV or 0) ion, cerium (IV) ion, praseodymium (IV) ion, erbium (III) ion, berkelium (IV) ion, and curium (IV) ion. The metal-solute species and the reduced/oxidized form of the metal-solute species comprise a sulfonate, preferably sulfate, methanesulfonate, and/or cerium (IV)-containing sulfonate, where the metal-solute species comprises an aqueous solution. The catalyst is an electron conductor. The catalyst is a platinum group metal-containing material, activated carbon and/or carbon nanotubes. The catalyst is a platinum group metal-containing material, where the catalyst has an average surface area of 10-100 m2/g. The catalyst comprises carbon nanotubes having surface area of greater than 100 m2/g. The carbon nanotube catalyst comprises single- or multi-walled nanotubes, and has an average tube diameter of 5-50 (preferably 10-30) nm. The catalyst comprises activated carbon, which comprises a powder having an average surface area of greater than 1000 m2/g, preferably greater than 1500 m2/g. The reduced form of the metal-solute species comprises one or more of gold ion, lead (II or 0) ion, cerium (III) ion, praseodymium (III) ion, erbium (II) ion, berkelium (III) ion, and curium (III) ion, preferably cerium (III) sulfate and/or cerium (III) methanesulfonates. The cerium (III)-containing sulfonate comprises sulfuric acid and/or methanesulfonic acid. The wavelength of the electromagnetic energy is 100-325 nm. A laser provides the electromagnetic energy. The cerium (IV)-containing sulfonate comprises one sulfuric acid and/or methanesulfonic acid. The photons have a wavelength of 25-1000 (preferably 200-300) nm. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.