[jcjlf]

Some years ago there was a Japanese claim that water could be decomposed at ordinary temperature by cataytic action of copper(I)oxide, while stirring.
Does anybody know what happened to this claim? Was there some proof? Would it be worthwile to let a college student study this topic? To let him study some variables experimentally? Maybe with other transition metal oxides? They are interested in hydrogen as an environment-friendly fuel, so they came up with a question to produce it without electricity.  Has anybody experience with this?
Or should this claim be set by the collection of scientific oddities not worth investigating anymore?