Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology have shown that copper oxide particles on the sub-nanoscale are more powerful catalysts than those on the nanoscale. These subnanoparticles can also catalyze the oxidation reactions of aromatic hydrocarbons far more effectively than catalysts currently used in industry.

The RoHS concept (Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances) since 2006, requires that many electrical and electronic equipment must no longer contain a concentration by atomic weight of more than 0.1% of Pb, Me, Cr (hexavalent) etc…