Well, let's look at the basic formula: U(coul) = (1 / 4PI e0) ( q1q2 / r) U(coul) is the stated coloumb barrier. e0 is the permittivity of vacuum: https://en.

Well, let's look at the basic formula: U(coul) = (1 / 4PI e0) ( q1q2 / r) U(coul) is the stated coloumb barrier. e0 is the permittivity of vacuum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_permittivity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_permittivity q1, q2 are the charges of the interacting particles. r is the interaction radius. So, if I want to lower U(coul), I either target q1 and q2 and make them smaller, or make e0 and/or r larger. So, how do we do that? e0 seems like a prime area to do some math. The permittivity of water is 710. Are there higher ones? http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/teach_res/db/d0006c.htm http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/teach_res/db/d0006c.htm Also, we know that high amounts of electricity strip the electrons off atoms. How does this change the coloumb barrier? Does it at all? At high enough electron densities, is it possible for an electron to hit a proton and make the next lower element at a different isotope? It's also obvious that lighter metals are ideal, as they have less protons than heavier elements. Given that, which metals have a seemingly-valid energy path, IF the barrier can be surpassed?