A study on electrolysis of heavy water and interaction of hydrogen with lattice defects in palladium electrodes

Excess tritium analysis was performed to verify whether or not cold fusion occurs during electrolysis of heavy water in the current density range of 83-600 mA/cm2 for a period of 24-48 hours with use of palladium electrodes of seven different processing treatments and geometries. The extent of recombination of D2 and O2 gases in the electrolytic cell was measured for the calculation of accurate enthalpy values. The behavior and interaction of hydrogen atoms with defects in Pd electrodes were examined using the Sieverts gas charging and the positron annihilation(PA) method. Slight enrichment of tritium observed was attributed to electrolytic enrichment but not to the formation of a by-product of cold fusion. The extent of recombination of D2 and O2 gases was 32%. Hence the excess heat measured during the electrolysis was considered to be due to the exothermic reaction of recombination but not to nuclear fusion. Lifetime results from the PA measurements on the Pd electrodes indicated that hydrogen atoms could be trapped at dislocations and vacancies in the electrodes and that dislocations were slightly more preferred sites than vacancies. It was also inferred from R parameters that the formation of hydrides was accompanied by generation of mostly dislocations. Doppler broadening results of the Pd electrodes indicated that lattice defect sites where positrons were trapped first increased and then decreased, and this cycle was repeated as electrolysis continued. It can be inferred from PA measurements on the cold-rolled Pd and the isochronally annealed Pd hydride specimens that microvoid-type defects existed in the hydrogen-changed electrode specimen. (AUthor)