In search of nuclear fusion in electrolytic cells and in metal/gas systems

Abstract

It has been reported recently in the literature that unexpected thermal and nuclear effects (production of excess heat, neutrons, γ-rays, and tritium) can occur during the electrolysis of heavy water at palladium or titanium electrodes, or during temperature and pressure cycling of the titanium/deuterium gas system. We have attempted to reproduce some of these experiments. A variety of electrochemical cells having palladium cathodes in the form of wires, tubes, sheets, and rods have been used to electrolyze heavy water containing 0.1 mol.dm⁻³ LiOH, 0.1 mol.dn⁻³ LiOD or 0.5 mol.dm⁻³ D₃PO₄. Current densities of up to 200 mA.cm⁻² were applied. The mass of the palladium cathodes covered the range from 1–40 grams and the surface area varied from 8–140 cm². Neutron detection systems with low constant backgrounds were used to search for neutron emission during electrolysis. These included³He- and¹⁰BF₃-based detectors. After running some of the cells for more than 30 days, no neutron emission above background could be detected. This puts upper limits of 0.5 s⁻¹ and 2×10⁻²³ fus. D-D.s⁻¹ on the neutron emission and the fusion rate, respectively. A sensitive and accurate heat-flow calorimeter was built and used to monitor the energy balance of some of the cells during electrolysis. No unexpected heat effects were observed. This puts an upper limit of 0.13 W.cm⁻³ on the specific excess power. No enrichment of the electrolyte in tritium was evident after electrolysis. Experiments were also performed with the titanium/ deuterium gas system. These consisted of exposing titanium metal to a deuterium gas pressure of 40 atmospheres, lowering the temperature to −196°C, releasing the pressure and gradually warming the titanium to room temperature. No neutron emission above background was observed during these experiments, which puts upper limits of 0.5 s⁻¹ and 4×10⁻²⁵ fus.D-D.s⁻¹ on the neutron emission and fusion rate, respectively.