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U.S. Department of Energy
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Investigation of phenomena related to D2O electrolysis at a palladium cathode. Technical Report No. 80, 1989-1990

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5183218

Measurements have been carried out on the phenomena reported by Fleischmann and Pons to occur during the electrolysis of D2O solutions with a palladium cathode. The measurements include: (1) the determination of tritium concentrations in the cells (2) the determination of the D/Pd ratios by coulometry: (3) surface analysis of the Pd cathode; and (4) neutron radiation measurements. Enhancement of tritium in the D2O solution was found in two open-type glass cells as well as well as in four other cells with Ni anodes. The largest enhancement factor found was 50. The source of this enhancement remains unexplained. Surface analysis revealed a number of impurities on the Pd surface including Si, Pt (with Pt anodes) and Li. The latter was found to penetrate 200 rm into the Pd bulk. The neutron measurements were inconclusive.

Research Organization:
Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States). Case Labs. for Electrochemical Studies
OSTI ID:
5183218
Report Number(s):
AD-A-236409/9/XAB; CNN: N00014-90-J-1212
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English