TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The open circuit voltage of the electrochemical cell during the production of hydrogen is less than 1.23V. The alkali cation conductive membrane is selected from a Na-super ion conductors (SICON) membrane, a NaSICON-type membrane, a LiSICON membrane, a LiSICON-type membrane, a KSICON membrane, a KSICON-type membrane, a sodium conducting glass, beta alumina membrane, and a solid polymeric sodium ion conductive membrane. The anode comprises a dimensionally stable anode and the anolyte comprises an aqueous solvent. Preferred Method: The method further involves heating the anolyte to 40-140 degrees C. The method further involves oxidizing the sodium iodide in the anolyte to form molecular iodine, and further involves regenerating the sodium iodide by reacting the molecular iodine with sodium hydroxide. The molecular iodine and the alkali hydroxide react at 70-500 degrees C. The reaction temperature is obtained through a heat source selected from solar energy, geothermal energy, and heat produced as an industrial byproduct. The alkali hydroxide that reacts with the molecular iodine is concentrated to 30-50 wt.%. The molecular iodine and the alkali hydroxide are reacted in the presence of a metal-oxide catalyst to facilitate the formation of the alkali metal iodide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The oxidizable substance is selected from halide ion, a chalcogenide ion, a manganese oxide ion, and an aluminum oxide ion. The halide ion is selected from iodine or bromine ion and the chalcogenide ion comprises sulfur, selenium or tellurium ion. The oxidizable substance comprises an iodide ion. The anolyte comprises an alkali metal salt of the oxidizable substance. The alkali metal salt comprises sodium iodide. The anolyte comprises sodium iodide or sodium sulfide and an additive selected from a mixture of conductive material, or organic solvent. The catholyte comprises a solution selected from aqueous sodium hydroxide and a non-aqueous methanol/sodium methoxide solution. The anolyte comprises a material selected from a non-aqueous solvent and a solid-state conductive additive. The anolyte comprises an ionic substance containing sodium. The conductive material is selected from graphite, titanium, tantalum, molybdenum while organic solvent selected from alcohols, glymes or ethers or solvents from ionic-liquid class. EXAMPLE - No suitable example is given.