Electroreduction of carbon dioxide was homogeneously carried out using cofacial dinuclear metalloporphyrin CoTMPyP-MTPPS. The reduction was catalyzed by Co(I)TMPyP which generated at −1.8 V vs. Ag/Ag⁺. More excellent catalytic activity was observed in the presence of H₂O in comparison with that for mononuclear one. The catalytic activity depended on the central metal of TPPS because they worked as an electron mediator.

New members of network σ-conjugated polymers, i.e., methyl-, butyl-, octyl-, and phenyl-substituted network polystannanes were synthesized for the first time by electrochemical reduction of methyl-, butyl-, octyl-, and phenyl-trichlorostannanes, respectively. These network polystannanes, as well as the network polysilanes and polygermanes reported by the authors previously, had absorption which extended over 600 nm. They reacted with water just like previously reported linear polystannanes, however, the decomposition rate seemed lower. Thermochromic behavior, similar to those of alkyl-terminated network polysilanes and polygermanes, was also observed.

The present investigation examined how to prevent Ni-P deposition through imperfections in anodic oxide films on aluminum and Al5052 alloy during electroless-plating. Pure aluminum and Al5052 alloy specimens were anodized in a sulfuric acid solution to form porous oxide films, and then immersed in boiling water to seal the pores. Confocal scanning laser microscopy was applied to examine the effect of pore-sealing on the Ni-P electroless deposition through imperfections. There were Ni-P domes deposited on both pure aluminum and Al5052 alloy covered with anodic oxide films through the imperfections in the oxide film. The number of Ni-P domes increased with electroless plating time on both kinds of specimens, and this change was more remarkable on Al5052 alloy, due to imperfections originating from second phase particles in the alloy substrate. Sealing treatment effectively prevented Ni-P dome deposition on both types of specimens, due to healing of the imperfections in the oxide films. Longer anodizing before the sealing treatment prevented the Ni-P deposition completely on the Al5052 alloy specimen even after 15 h of electroless plating.

Electrogeneration of superoxide ion (O₂⁻) via one-electron reduction of dioxygen (O₂) in aqueous solution has been examined with various thiol-modified Au electrodes. Based on the reactions between O₂⁻ and superoxide dismutase (SOD) or ferric cytochrome c (cyt.c (Fe³⁺)), thiols (thiol compounds) such as n-hexadecanethiol, n-decanethiol, mercaptoacetic acid and 3-mercaptopropionic acid were found to be new electrode modifiers which allow the electrogeneration of O₂⁻ on Au electrode. The current efficiencies for the electrogeneration of O₂⁻ at these thiol-modified Au electrodes were ca. 4%. Some probable mechanisms for the electrogeneration of O₂⁻ at the modified electrodes are discussed. It is concluded that, unlike quinoline compounds adsorbed on Hg electrode which are known to form liquid-like hydrophobic layers favorable for the electrogeneration of O₂⁻, the thiols adsorbing as self-assembled monolayers on the Au electrode surface do not necessarily form such hydrophobic layers, but prevent or reduce the spontaneous dismutation between O₂ molecules adsorbing on the Au electrode surface by spatially separating them each other as a result of the adsorption of the thiol molecules themselves on it and consequently the electrogeneration of O₂ can be realized at these thiol-modified Au electrodes.